Lando Norris signed a new multi-year deal with McLaren in May last year, but the team has wanted to reward him for his excellent performance in 2021 with a new deal covering the next four seasons.
“I am extremely happy, McLaren is a big part of my career and my life. To stay in Formula 1 for another four years is quite an amazing thing,” Norris said.
“I’m very happy to do it with McLaren , the people I grew up with, the team I came into Formula 1 with.
“I would love to continue what we are doing and keep trying to achieve our dream, which is to win races again and of course to win championships and so on.”
Norris made his Formula 1 debut with McLaren in 2019, but his most successful season to date came last year when he took four podium finishes and his first pole position at the Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi circuit.
He came close to winning that race in Russia, but rain came in the closing laps and a strategy error saw him lose the lead shortly before the checkered flag.
He finished the year in sixth place in the drivers’ championship and led the McLaren team, beating new teammate Daniel Ricciardo by a whopping 45 points.
Ricciardo is under contract until the end of the 2023 season, which means McLaren ‘s driver line-up will not change for at least the next two seasons.
Team principal Andreas Seidl explained that re-signing Norris to a long-term contract was key to achieving the stability the team needs to pursue its ambitious goals after ending its nine-year victory drought in 2021. .
“We strongly believe in Lando’s talent, he can certainly be a key element in achieving the goals we have,” said Seidl.
“Consistency and continuity for a driver is also one of the keys to success, especially if you are already used to a car.”
“So Zak [Brown] and I recently got engaged to Lando. We’ve worked together for a number of years, so we’re very happy to have come to an agreement to sign Lando to a new four-year deal.”
Norris acknowledged that it felt “a little weird” to sign two different contracts in nine months, but acknowledged that the new, longer-term deal would help him get the most out of himself on the track.
“I see this new contract as a clear benefit, for me personally to have this longer contract and knowing that I will be here for a while, but also for the team.”
Norris had one of the most outstanding performances in F1 last season, but now, with the signing of a new contract, McLaren ensures that no rival team tries to sign the British driver for the next four years.
“I think there are opportunities that we know could arise in the future with various teams. But this is a very clear message of the trust we have in each other and how convinced McLaren is of its recovery to return to the front of the grid in the next years”.
Seidl also revealed that he and McLaren CEO Brown have reached a new deal to renew for the same period, thus giving the British team greater stability.
“Zak, myself and my entire working group are also committed to the team for the long term,” said Seidl.
“We have a very good team with great talent, our new agreement is also a very important sign of the confidence we have to get back to the front in Formula 1,” he concluded.
