Norris: ‘Only one place I’d ever be interested in’ beyond McLaren

Lando Norris has reaffirmed his long-term commitment to McLaren, declaring his ambition is to spend the rest of his Formula 1 career with the team while revealing there is only one rival outfit he would ever consider joining.

The reigning world champion has become one of the defining figures of McLaren's modern resurgence, transforming from a highly rated rookie into the driver who delivered the team's first Drivers' Championship in years.

Although his latest admission leaves the door slightly ajar for one future move, Norris made it clear that any such scenario remains firmly in the distance.

Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix on this week’s Beyond the Grid podcast, the 2025 title winner stressed that his immediate and long-term focus remains on the team that has been central to his F1 journey.

“Very, very potentially because I don't know how long I'll be in Formula 1,” he said when asked whether he sees himself as a one-team driver.

“My contract still goes for a good amount of years so I know I'm not leaving any time soon. I don't know. If there's any place I want to go, there's only one place I'd ever be interested in but that's very, very in the distant future.”

McLaren remains the priority

Norris has been intertwined with McLaren for almost a decade, having joined the team's Young Driver Programme in 2017 before making his Formula 1 debut with the Woking squad in 2019.

Since then, he has amassed 11 Grand Prix victories, 16 pole positions and 46 podium finishes, while becoming McLaren's most experienced Formula 1 driver in terms of race starts.

Alongside capturing the 2025 Drivers' Championship, he also played a pivotal role in securing back-to-back Constructors' titles in 2024 and 2025.

Despite inevitable speculation that accompanies any world champion, Norris insisted his bond with team papaya extends far beyond results.

“For now, I'm heavily committed to McLaren being the only team I'll ever want to be with and I feel like they're my family,” he added.

“I want to do as much as I can with McLaren for as long as possible – for five years, 10 years – and I'm very, very proud and happy that I can say that, more than many other drivers ever in Formula 1.

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“For me, that's my goal, to be with McLaren forever, but I also love winning. So, until that time comes, you never know.

“But even if I'm not winning – you know, I didn't win for six years, I could have gone to different places and I didn't because, at the end of the day, I just want to enjoy.

“It goes all the way back to the very beginning, honestly. You easily have that perception from people saying you have to be cut-throat and do all these different things, but I'll do my best with McLaren forever and, even sometimes if you're not winning, that doesn't mean I necessarily want to go to another team.

“I just want to be with the people that I enjoy being with and that's the only thing I really care about.”

Championship struggles have not dimmed Norris' ambition

Although Norris reached the summit in 2025, his title defence has proved far more complicated.

McLaren's 2026 campaign has been hampered by reliability issues, leaving Norris fifth in the championship standings. He currently trails teammate Oscar Piastri by a single point, a stark contrast to the dominance that carried him to last year's crown.

Yet Norris says lifting his first world title has only intensified his desire for further success.

“The hunger is still there,” he said. “I think there are some things in life that, once you get that feeling of doing it once, you want more of it.

“Success is certainly addictive, it's a drug, and you certainly get that from winning trophies and celebrating with the team and all of these incredible things.

“And I think it goes forever, honestly. That's why you still see Fernando [Alonso] here and Lewis [Hamilton] here, because they know what it feels like. They know what it does to you and they're 44, 41 years old, still wanting to get that feeling again.

“One guy has seven of them and he still wants more. So that's what it can do to someone, the effect it can have on someone.”

For now, Norris' message is unequivocal. While he acknowledged there is one team capable of catching his attention somewhere down the road, his present vision remains unchanged: continue chasing victories, championships and a lasting legacy in McLaren colours.

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