RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Lando Norris made his Formula 1 debut in 2019 [Getty Images]
Lando Norris says signing a new contract that will keep him at McLaren until at least the end of 2030 was "quite an easy yes for me".
The world champion, whose new deal was announced on Saturday, said he "didn't even have a look" at other teams before deciding to commit his future to the team he has been with since his Formula 1 debut in 2019.
"There was some interest from elsewhere," Norris said in an interview with BBC Sport, "but I don't want to go anywhere. I don't want to be with another team. I don't want to spend time with other people.
"That's why it really was probably one of the easiest decisions I've made since being in Formula 1."
The Briton had no need to rush his decision to commit to McLaren because his existing contract still had more than a year to run.
But he says the idea "became a topic of conversation over the last four months or so, but very loosely in the background" and he had no hesitation in agreeing.
Norris says his loyalty to McLaren is based on the relationships he has within the team - starting with chief executive officer Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella - and their shared history.
After Norris made his F1 debut in 2019, they spent several years struggling for competitiveness, before their form turned around quickly after Stella was promoted at the end of 2022.
The team won consecutive constructors' championships in 2024 and 2025 - ending a drought that went back to 1998 - and the drivers' title for Norris last year.
The 26-year-old said: "The fact I stuck it through with them and then we went on to obviously have success certainly makes me feel like I don't want to... they didn't give up on me and I didn't give up on them.
"That just creates a very strong bond between everyone that works here. I want to believe that bond stays as strong as it is now 'til I do retire in my career at Formula 1.
"I know that's a long, long way away and I don't want to think of it. But I believe we're in the best place we've ever been even with a tough start to the season. And I believe that we can fight through anything together for sure."
Slow start to year 'makes me want to stick around'
McLaren started this season well off the pace they had shown through 2024 and 2025 as they struggled to get on top of the new rules introduced to F1 this year.
But Norris says that only made him want to stay at the team more.
"That's exactly the situation that doesn't take me away from where I am or doesn't influence anything else," he said.
"I still have had a lot of fun and enjoy working and trying to fight through the tougher moments with the people that I do it with now. I don't want to fight through moments with anyone else.
"This beginning of the year is the perfect example of what doesn't make me turn my head the other way or anything.
"In fact, it's more the opposite. It makes me want to stick with the people that I am with because I believe we can fight back through most circumstances and all circumstances. And I enjoy the fight in some ways just as much as I enjoy the experience of being on top."
He added: "People get too hung up sometimes on saying, 'is it the right place?' I believe it is, but even if it wasn't, the fact that I can just say I'm a driver for McLaren and I race for McLaren, that makes me happy enough."
Title hopes? 'I'm starting the fight to defend it'
McLaren have improved their performance significantly in recent races. After a major upgrade to their car, Norris has won the past two grands prix, in Hungary and the Netherlands.
That has reduced the gap between him and Mercedes' championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 83 points with 11 races remaining - although the war in the Middle East may affect the number of races that end up being staged.
Norris said before the British Grand Prix in July that he had been frustrated at not being able to defend his title.
Now, he says: "I'm starting the fight of defending it. I'm trying to. I'm doing my best. We all are. As a team, we're doing our best. They want to allow me to fight for it and of course I just want to fight for it. So, it's a big challenge.
"It's still a big mountain to climb in terms of trying to achieve it. But for a while now, we've been very, very close to being in the position that we are now, where we can fight for wins and podiums and we can fight the people we need to fight against.
"So, I'm certainly more confident than I have been, especially the first part of the year.
"But it still just takes a lot of work and there's a lot of things we need to improve on but we're confident as a team that we can try to achieve it."
What McLaren say about Norris
Team principal Andrea Stella said: "Lando is an exceptional driver, who combines outstanding natural speed with maturity, consistency and a strong commitment to McLaren but, above all, he is a special human being who is valued by everyone in the team.
"Since joining McLaren as part of our junior programme, he has grown with us and played a central role in bringing the team back to the front of Formula 1.
"This extension gives us important continuity and reinforces our confidence in the direction we are taking together.
"With him and Oscar [Piastri, Norris' team-mate], we know we can count not only on one of the strongest partnerships but also on one of the most united and close-knit teams in Formula 1."
Zak Brown, chief executive officer of McLaren Racing, said: "Lando's journey with the team is a fantastic example of our commitment to identifying, developing and supporting world-class talent, and his achievement...
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