P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris was set to play a key role in the driver market for 2026, prior to signing a multi-year extension with McLaren ahead of the 2024 F1 season.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown revealed that Lando Norris had the opportunity to explore other options for the 2026 season, but chose to stay with McLaren due to their “unfinished business” together. Norris surprised many by signing a contract extension with McLaren before Lewis Hamilton announced his move to Ferrari, sparking speculation about Norris jumping the gun. Despite interest from teams like Red Bull and Mercedes, Norris decided to continue with McLaren, where he has been a pivotal part of their resurgence as podium contenders. Alongside Oscar Piastri, who also extended his contract, Norris ensures McLaren has a promising driver lineup for the new regulations in 2026. Brown expressed his satisfaction with both drivers’ commitment to McLaren, highlighting their talent and the team’s positive outlook as they strive towards achieving their goals in Formula 1.
