Lando Norris opens up to Ferrari and Mercedes after signing his new McLaren deal
Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris has made it clear that McLaren has always been his “dream” team, but he also admits that, like anyone, he might want to try different experiences in his future.
Norris recently signed a new contract with McLaren that will keep him with the Woking team until the end of 2030, despite other teams showing interest. The 26-year-old says he isn’t focused on those other chances right now but doesn’t rule out maybe joining Ferrari or Mercedes once his contract ends.
Norris, who has been a loyal McLaren driver for years, will have spent 12 seasons with the same team by the time his new deal finishes. In an interview with F1 legend Martin Brundle for Sky Sports, he admitted that while other teams showed interest, staying with McLaren was an easy choice.
He said, “I’m the kind of driver who would rather take a year or two of hard work than jump to instant success, which is what I did with McLaren a few years ago.” He added, “A big part of it is just being happy. Even when we weren’t winning, I was happy with McLaren because I still had an amazing chance to do what I love, travel, and compete.”
Norris is excited about the next few years with the team he loves. When asked about following Lewis Hamilton’s lead to Ferrari, he said that’s something for the future, not now.
While Norris is clearly committed to McLaren, he is open to new experiences later on, showing a change from the old idea of sticking with one team for a whole career.
“My dream was always to be with McLaren, and I feel very lucky to be here,” he told Brundle. “But it’s normal to want to see what the other side is like — whether that’s Ferrari, Mercedes, or another team. Right now, I’m not thinking about it, but ask me again after 2030!”
Norris feels settled at McLaren, but how well the team competes over time will likely affect his decisions. He’s used to racing near the front, finishing in the top six of the world championship twice in three years, and coming in second to Max Verstappen in 2024. He actually beat Verstappen for the title last year but is currently fourth this season after a recent strong finish in the Netherlands.
As much as Norris enjoys staying with McLaren, world champions usually want to compete at the top, so the team’s performance is important. McLaren will continue their effort this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
Stay tuned for more updates on Norris and McLaren’s journey ahead!