Lando Norris stated that he could have said goodbye to McLaren before signing his new contract until the 2030 Formula 1 season.
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Last week, the team and driver announced the contract renewal for four more championships. Making his debut in Woking back in 2019, this means his relationship with the team will last for more than a decade.
The announcement came a few days after Max Verstappen also extended his contract with Red Bull until the 2030 season – the Dutchman was under the spotlight of rumors indicating a possible departure from the team.
And while for the four-time world champion there was no space in other teams, for Norris there was a chance. “There were opportunities, of course. But positive opportunities. Sometimes, there are chances to take risks. Personally, I am a driver who prefers to go through one or two tougher years rather than have immediate success, as happened to me a few years ago at McLaren,” he told Martin Brundle.
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“As much as I want to win every year, it’s not all about needing to be in a team tomorrow that will win the next race and do this or that,” he continued.
Explaining the reason for staying with McLaren, he pointed out that “a big part of it also comes down to: am I happy? I was happy at McLaren even when we weren’t winning, because I’m still facing an incredible opportunity, doing the work I love, traveling and living all of this. So, for me, it’s not all about maximum performance. Much of it, a large part, actually has to do with the people I’m around.”
“It’s simply the fact of feeling at home and enjoying the experience. And that weighs as much as saying ‘I need to be in a team that performs well and wins championships,’” he concluded.
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