McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown is optimistic he’ll be able to convince Lando Norris to extend his allegiance to team papaya beyond 2025, thanks to the outfit’s resurgence in F1.
The two parties’ prior negotiation in early 2022 led to the pair committing to a new four-year agreement.
While the deal was a sure sign of mutual confidence and a coup for McLaren, many in the paddock were surprised that Norris had accepted to tie himself up for such an extended duration given the uncertainty at the time surrounding his team’s competitive future.
Brown theoretically has time on his side to try and lock in Norris, but with high-profile contracts at Red Bull and Ferrari expiring at the end of this season, and those at Mercedes concluding a year later, the McLaren boss is prepared to move quickly to lock in the services of the 23-year-old.
“There are a lot of priorities, and certainly with Lando we've got some time, but he is a driver that everybody up and down the pit lane wants,” commented Brown, quoted by Speedcafe.
“How much longer is Lewis going? What are Mercedes going to do? How much longer has Sergio (Perez) got?
“For sure, the three other big teams probably don't have visibility as to their driver line-up beyond '25.
“And I think with how Lando has performed, he would be top of everyone's list.”
Asked if he felt confident that a deal can be done before the driver market kicks into overdrive later this year, Brown said: “Sooner…I think the market is already going.”
With Oscar Piastri contracted to McLaren through 2026, Brown will only need to hold talks with Norris.
McLaren’s turn-around last year has now positioned the team as a regular podium contender. But it’s no secret that Norris wants a piece of equipment that can carry him to the world title sooner rather than later, or at 2026 at the latest when F1 ushers in its new regulation platform.
Can Brown sell his star driver the goods?
“I think we're in a great place with Lando,” said the American. “I think '26 is a great opportunity for everyone to reset, and there is nothing we don't have going into '26 that any of the other teams have.
“He's very comfortable in the environment, with his team-mate. I think as you go down and look at who can get it done in '26, there are four or five teams that you can say can get it done, and we will be one of those.”
Brown recognizes that his negotiating hand with Norris has been made significantly stronger by McLaren’s forward march in 2023, led by team boss Andrea Stella.
Had the team continued to linger over the summer as it had in the first part of its 2023 campaign, Brown would approaching his talks with Norris from a position of weakness.
“If we would have continued on the path that we were on at the start of the year, I wouldn't have wanted to drive here,” he concluded.
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