Lando Norris sees no reason for him to leave McLaren right now, as he enjoys being at the team and he believes in the vision that they can be competing for world championships in the coming years.
Norris previously had a contract that ran until the end of 2023 – much like his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo – but has recently put pen to paper on a new deal that takes him through to the end of the 2025 season.
The Briton scored points in 20 of the 22 races last year, managing four podiums in the process.
He had looked on course for his first win at the Russian Grand Prix after claiming his maiden pole position, but a strategic mistake in changing weather conditions ultimately cost him victory to Sir Lewis Hamilton.
He out-qualified Ricciardo, who signed from Renault ahead of 2021, 15-7 while out-racing him by the same score, cementing himself as one of the most prodigious talents on the grid right now.
Norris owes ‘a lot to McLaren’
He credits the Woking team with this having given him his debut in the pinnacle of motorsport in 2019, and this is why he is keen to stay.
“I feel like I owe it to McLaren,” he told GPFans.
“I owe a lot to McLaren and I just want to be part of that journey and make sure I know I’m in a good place in year two, year three, year four for this contract I’m on.”
Besides that, the 22-year-old is enchanted by the atmosphere at the team, and therefore is aware there would be little personal benefit to leaving for another side.
“That and of course, I just really like it here. It’s very enjoyable. I love the people I work with and at this moment in time, I don’t want to change things. I don’t need to go to other teams and so on,” he explained.
Talks with other teams
Norris previously confirmed that he had talks with other teams before he signed a new deal with McLaren, but none of them went into any intricacies.
In the meantime, he was still speaking with team principal Andreas Seidl and CEO Zak Brown about extending his stay at the eight-time constructors’ champions, and in the end the decision to remain where he is was a simple one.
“None of it went into too many details because talks with Andreas and Zak and so on were always ongoing,” he emphasised.
“Even since last time, there were always things that we were bringing up to each other, them to myself and myself back to them about our future and them wanting me in the team and me wanting to be a part of their team.
“So it was quite simple. I think we work very well together, we want to win together and it’s our goal together that we want to achieve wins and championships.”
McLaren ended the 2021 Constructors’ Championship fourth behind Ferrari, and while they are seeking improvements on last year, Brown has previously poured water over suggestions that they will be a championship contender in 2022.