McLaren Racing has announced a contract extension for Formula 1 driver Lando Norris. The deal is reportedly a multi-year contract agreement with the young driver. The 21-year-old from Somerset, UK, has been part of the McLaren F1 racing team since early 2017. He initially joined as Test and Simulator Driver, following championship victories in all but one of the single-seater junior formulae. Lando became McLaren Test and Reserve driver in 2018, taking part in several free practice sessions, before being promoted to a full-time race seat for the 2019 season.
With this announcement, McLaren has cemented their driver line-up. Along with Norris, Australian racer Daniel Ricciardo will also represent McLaren in Formula 1. There is an ideal mix of experience and youth in the current McLaren team.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said: “I’m delighted with the extension of our agreement with Lando for 2022 and beyond. He’s been instrumental in our return of form here at McLaren and we’re proud of the growth he’s shown since he first started with us back in 2017. Lando is one of the brightest talents on the Formula 1 grid and we look forward to seeing him continue to go from strength to strength both on and off track.”
So excited to tell you that I’m staying with McLaren. My goal is to win races and world championships and over the last three years McLaren have shown me that they’re able to build a car for me to do that in. Let’s continue what we started @McLarenF1 🤛 pic.twitter.com/SjGhrfzX73
— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) May 19, 2021
The confirmation of driver pairing beyond 2022 signals McLaren Racing is building for the future. In the current campaign, McLaren is third in the constructor’s championship with 65 points, five points above Ferrari.
Lando Norris currently sits in the fourth position in the driver’s championship and Daniel Ricciardo is in the seventh spot. Lewis Hamilton continues to lead the chars in the drivers’ rankings with Mercedes as has managed three wins and four podium finishes this season. McLaren will be hoping that Lando Norris can propel in the top three by the end of the season. The clarity regarding his future will also provide stability in the promising career of Norris.