(Motorsport) British racing driver Lando Norris has signed a new contract with Formula 1 team McLaren until 2025. The deal means Norris now has the longest contract on the F1 grid as McLaren will hope to not just overcome rivals Ferrari but also Mercedes and Red Bull in the coming years for the elusive World Championship trophy. The 22 year old signed a contract extension with the British racing team last year but his impressive 2021 season saw the driver claim his first pole position as well as four podium finishes.

Norris became the youngest ever British driver to join Formula 1 in 2019 and the 22 year old said “I have grown up in this team and I'm part of this journey we're all on. I want to continue to try to reach that dream of ours and try to win races, and of course to try and win championships. Big thanks to Andreas [Seidl], Zak [Brown] and all of McLaren for having this faith in me. Of course it also shows the faith I have in McLaren and what they will be able to achieve in the next few years. We know it's not going to be quick, we're learning and there's still things we need to improve on to have the ability to fight for wins and championships, but I know that's coming up."

"This is more for the solidarity of me and the team, the confidence in both for the long term," said the British driver. I see that as a benefit for myself, to have this longer contract and stay here for a while, and one for the team. I do see it as a performance benefit and motivation benefit for mechanics, engineers and everybody at MTC. If I want to find every bit of performance, that is included in something like this. It was another opportunity for me to confirm my commitment to the team, for them to confirm it with me, and give the whole team confidence that I'm here to stay and trying to achieve things with them."

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said “He showed last year that in the right team and the right car, in just his third year in Formula 1, he can score pole positions and drive for race wins. "It was natural for us, we try to lock him in as long as possible here at McLaren for continuity and consistency.” Norris is considered one of the hottest properties in the Formula 1 grid and McLaren have pinned their hopes on the 22 year old to bring back the World Championship which was last won by Lewis Hamilton for the Formula 1 team in 2008. 

Norris has admitted that he has had opportunities to join other teams. The British racing driver said “I'm sure I could have opportunities to go elsewhere in the future but for the next four years, and a big part of my life, I want to stay here and enjoy the time with McLaren and the people that brought me into this sport. This is a very strong message to put across to everyone the faith we have in each other, the confidence I have in McLaren can recover and get to the front in the next few years.

“There were little chats here and there but that's all. If something came up that's when I would go to Andreas and have a conversation. There were little things here and there with various other teams but nothing that went far at all. Which teams? That's something I can't say but you would probably be able to guess reasonably well!

“I have to weigh in all the factors and it's still my own career that I'm focusing on. I look at all the best options for me and what I can be most successful in, where I believe I can achieve the best but also what I believe is the best for me as a driver and as a person, and in the longer term. Of course there will be opportunities for sure now for other drivers to do things and maybe go to Red Bull or Mercedes.

"But the fact that I would have had those opportunities and still chose to stay at McLaren is I think the good thing about all this, I know those opportunities would arise in the next few years but the fact is I've still committed to McLaren. I think that's quite a strong message that this is where I want to be and where I want to achieve race wins, podiums and championships. Weighing all the factors for my own benefit and where I think I could have been in the next few years with drivers leaving so on, but in the end for me McLaren was still the best option."

McLaren will launch their 2022 Formula 1 car on Friday.

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