$94 Million Richer Lando Norris Backs His Vital F1 Decision to Label Criticism as “Cr*p”

War has erupted in the McLaren clan as two superstars associated with the team have locked heads- Jenson Button and Lando Norris. The two drivers have engaged in a war of words after the current star is said to be facing issues with the poorly performing team and yet extended his contract until the end of the 2025 season, bringing in a whopping $94 million into the Briton’s pocket, raising eyebrows from all sides! 

Many people have not started questioning Lando’s decision as McLaren seems to have diverted from the path of progress  it had been walking on over the past few years after it hit rock bottom during the mid-2010s. And with the team, part of the bottom of the team was 2009 world champion Jenson Button who said he was “surprised” by Lando’s decision to stay with the team.

Defending his decision and snapping back at Button, Lando said, as quoted by the DailyMail from AP, “I respect people’s opinions—particularly Jenson’s because he has been through a lot of these times – so I take it all on board. I don’t ignore it, I get what he is saying a little bit. But if someone says c**p about me, then cool I will laugh about it and move on. Big deal. A few years ago I probably would have taken it a bit more to heart.”

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Lando’s contract extension was a task for McLaren given that he was approached by both Mercedes and Red Bull, which played a huge role in getting him this high pay.

Lando Norris is hopeful of McLaren turning things around

If there’s anything that the preseason testing sessions from the past have indicated, it’s that the performances during the three days aren’t the best indicators. Teams underplay their cars, hide their hands, and sandbag their cars. It’s all known. Perhaps this could also be the case with McLaren.

Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – November 20, 2022 McLaren’s Lando Norris ahead of the race REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Speaking with the media and quoted by Sports Illustrated, Lando expressed hope for better times, saying, “I’ve got no idea how we’re going to do I guess. We’re not up there with the top teams, but we’re I think we’re up there fighting for some for some points, hopefully. I don’t think we’re in a terrible place as it is. We’re maybe not as strong as we want to be but we’re not as bad as maybe what some people are expecting.”

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McLaren will have to keep pulling strings to keep Norris with them because if anything the Briton has shown is that he eyes the championship and wouldn’t be settling for anything less.