There have been talks about Lando Norris leaving McLaren for Red Bull in the paddocks recently. Although Norris has ties with Red Bull, he has always been dedicated to the team. Recently, he has been at the forefront of the McLaren F1 team, making them reach great success in the last 6 years he has been with the team. So then, why would he leave?
Zak Brown has recently come out to make it clear that he values Norris as a driver and would like to keep him around for as long as possible. Now, McLaren has taken steps to secure Norris’ career in the team while permanently putting an end to all the rumors about Red Bull.
McLaren’s Multi-Year Contract extension with Lando Norris
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McLaren Formula 1 Team has officially announced the extension of Lando Norris’s contract in a multi-year deal. This renewal surpasses his previous four-year agreement signed in February 2022, ensuring his services with the team beyond the 2025 season. The latest contract extension builds on Lando Norris’s already strong six-year relationship with McLaren Racing. This only shows how much the Team needs Lando.
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) January 26, 2024
During the FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, Lando shocked the world with his highly successful 2023 season. He managed to score 205 points and secured a sixth-place finish. But he didn’t stop there; he also secured six second-place finishes, including a podium at the British Grand Prix, becoming the first McLaren driver to accomplish this at Silverstone since 2010.
About his time in McLaren, Lando said “It’s a great feeling to be staying in papaya. I’ve grown up with McLaren and feel at home here, the team are like family to me.” He added, “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.”
Read More – Trendsetter Lando Norris’ World Comes Full Circle as Juniors From Former Karting Team Idolize Him
By now, Lando has created a strong place for himself in the McLaren Family and it looks like Papaya is the place where he feels most at home. Zak Brown has contributed quite a bit to making Lando feel at home and helping him unlock his true potential. The driver has now become an important asset to the team, and the papaya team will not let a driver like Norris go that easily.
Zak Brown’s say on Lando being with McLaren
Before Lando Norris’ contract ends in 2025, Zak Brown already made a move by proposing an extension to the contract. Zak Brown sat down with ESPN to answer some questions on the future of Papaya. When asked about the contract extension, Brown said, “On the Lando front, I feel my primary role is to get the right people in place, give them the right resources, and the support.”
He spoke about how Lando loves working with everyone at McLaren and how the team needs to keep giving him the environment that he wants to be in. After mentioning this, Brown stated, “And then I’m confident he’ll stick around, as opposed to trying to kind of sell against the competition. That’s never been my way.”
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Brown states that he is quite happy with the state of the team. Having Lando and Oscar has been good for McLaren and he hopes to work with them in the foreseeable future. He also mentioned how retaining their drivers for as long as possible is a high priority for them.
Read More – F1 News: “If I Suck, Tell Me I Suck”: Lando Norris Gets Brutally Honest Amid McLaren’s Bold Promise for 2024
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The Team CEO of McLaren has shown his faith in the drivers and it looks like we can expect to see some great races from Papaya this season. What do you think of Lando Norris’ performance in McLaren so far? Although he hasn’t won a GP yet, do you think this will be the year for him?
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