Lando Norris signed a “multi-year” contract extension with McLaren on Friday to end speculation over his Formula One future and it is clear Australian teammate Oscar Piastri helped keep him stay in papaya.
Piastri came to a three-year agreement with McLaren back in September and while Norris was already contracted to McLaren until the conclusion of the 2025 season, the new deal puts to rest talk the British driver could be lured to rivals Red Bull.
The 24-year-old has been with McLaren since 2018, but there were reports he could leave the team after a slow start to the 2023 campaign.
Norris eventually enjoyed his most successful season to date, finishing sixth in the world championship and recording six second-placed finishes.
“Considering we were able to do what we did last year, considering it’s a team that I’ve been with from the beginning, it’s a team that I want to continue my story with, in terms of reaching my goal of winning races and winning championships,” Norris said.
“McLaren is the team that I want to do it with. They’re the ones who brought me into Formula One and gave me this opportunity.
“So, in some ways, I feel like I owe it to them and I’m just very much part of the family and very much enjoying where I am. I don’t want to join a different team and not enjoy it.
“I’m excited to be part of that family, especially on the trajectory that we’re on.”
Despite Red Bull currently being the dominant force in the sport thanks to star drive Max Verstappen, Norris insists that a change of team was not something he seriously considered.
Having started 104 races and earned 13 podium finishes, his next challenge is to secure a maiden Grand Prix win.
“Really nothing from any other side was convincing enough to ever want to make me even have a proper look at another team,” he said.
“As much as I do want to just be in a team that’s the quickest one, there’s also that element of ‘I’m also here because I love racing and I love to have fun and enjoy all of that’.
“There’s not many things that can be guaranteed or assured of with any team. So, it comes back to, where will I be happiest and where am I most confident that I can actually achieve a world championship?
“In the beginning of last year, maybe it wouldn’t have been McLaren but now I think I’m more confident than ever in saying it’s going to be.”
A lot of that comes back to Piastri’s performance in his rookie season too, with Norris stressing how the Australian’s success is only driving him to be even better.
In fact, when asked if Piastri could “prove to be possibly an even tougher teammate” than Daniel Ricciardo or Carlos Sainz, Norris did not hesitate in his answer.
“[He] already is,” Norris told Sky Sports.
“He gave me a good challenge last year. I think we work together really well. I think he’s an extremely talented driver, he’s a very hard worker so I enjoyed it. It was nice to have that bit more of a push.
“As much as you hate it, you also like and welcome it because I want to make sure I’m in the best position for, when I am fighting for a championship, that I am ready on all accounts and when you have a driver and teammate that can push you that little bit more it’s only going to make you even more ready.
“That’s what I had last year. He helped the team massively and I think we worked together very well because we have the same target. We want to be champions and we want to win races and we’re not going to do that by hating on one another and not getting along.
“Times always change when you start fighting for race wins but he gave the team a good help and that’s what we needed and I look forward to more of our battles and working together for longer.”
