Lando Norris is staying at McLaren for at least three more seasons

Lando Norris has committed his future to McLaren by signing a multi-year contract renewal with the team he made his F1 debut with five years ago.

It follows yesterday’s news that Charles Leclerc had signed an extension with Ferrari that would keep the Monegasque driver at the Italian outfit “for several more seasons to come”.

Norris’s new deal is almost as cryptic, with the team only confirming that its driver line-up would stay the same ‘until at least the end of 2026’: Oscar Piastri reached a three-year agreement with McLaren back in September.

Presumably that means there are some discreet exit clauses that muddy the waters a bit: Lando’s old contract wasn’t going to expire until the end of 2025, but the 24-year-old was still heavily linked to a move to Red Bull when Sergio Perez was struggling for form last season.

“It’s a great feeling to be staying in papaya,” said Norris. “I’ve grown up with McLaren and feel at home here, the team are like family to me. The journey so far has been exciting, we’ve had ups and downs, but last season showed our desire to get back to competing at the front of the grid.

“The work Zak, Andrea and the whole team have put in over the last year has been incredible and I’m confident in challenging for wins with McLaren. I’m excited to create more amazing memories and continue working hard with everyone at MTC for the next few years.”

Last year McLaren’s season started abysmally but turned on a dime when a major aero upgrade catapulted the MCL60 up the grid: the team overhauled Aston Martin to finish fourth in the constructors’ standings, and no one finished runner-up to Max Verstappen more often than Norris in 2023.

And with a new wind tunnel, next-generation racing simulator, a new composites facility and various new staff members joining the team, McLaren is confident it can give Norris a car capable of that elusive first F1 win.

“I’m delighted that we’re continuing our relationship with Lando for multiple years to come,” said team CEO Zak Brown. “It’s been a fantastic journey over the last six years, and he has shown fantastic commitment and desire to push the team forward and get McLaren back to the front of the grid.

“Last season we saw the fundamental role Lando played with the impressive turnaround in results and I’m looking forward to continuing this push forward together with lots more podiums.”