Lando Norris, the current Formula 1 World Champion, has confirmed that he will remain with McLaren through at least the close of the 2030 season. The 26‑year‑old British driver, who first joined the team in 2019 as a teenager, had previously signed an extension that was expected to keep him at the Woking outfit until the end of 2027. The latest agreement adds another four‑year block to his contract, with a further multi‑year option that could see him continue beyond 2030 if both parties wish.
Norris clinched the 2025 championship, becoming the eleventh British driver to win the title and the first McLaren driver to do so since Lewis Hamilton’s triumph in 2008. The contract announcement came on the Saturday after Norris secured his thirteenth Grand Prix victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, a win that reinforced his status as the sport’s leading contender. Speaking about the new deal, Norris said, “McLaren feels like home to me, and I’m delighted to sign a fresh contract that keeps me here until at least 2030. When I started this journey nine years ago, my aim was clear: to bring McLaren back to the front of the grid and fight for championships.
We have achieved that, but we want more – we want to keep winning, and I know we have the capacity to do it.” Team principal Andrea Stella praised the Briton, calling him “an exceptional driver who blends raw speed with maturity, consistency and a deep commitment to McLaren.” Stella added that Norris is also “a special person who is respected by everyone in the paddock,” and highlighted that Norris has grown from a junior programme recruit into a central figure in the team’s resurgence. After a difficult start to the 2024 season, during which McLaren failed to win a race in the first ten rounds, Norris delivered back‑to‑back victories that revived hopes of defending his title.
He currently sits fourth in the drivers’ championship, 83 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli with eleven races left, and must also overtake Antonelli’s teammate George Russell and veteran Lewis Hamilton, who trail the Italian by 59 points each. Norris is now entering his eighth season with McLaren.
He made his debut with the team as a 19‑year‑old in 2019 and has amassed 163 Grand Prix starts, a record for the outfit that eclipsed David Coulthard’s 150‑race tally at the Qatar Grand Prix last year. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, signed a separate extension that secures his services until the end of 2028.
Speculation about a possible move for Max Verstappen to McLaren surfaced earlier in the summer, but the four‑time champion quashed the rumours by extending his Red Bull contract until 2030 as well. Stella emphasized the strategic importance of Norris’s extension, noting that it provides “crucial continuity” and reinforces the team’s confidence in its long‑term direction.
He added that the pairing of Norris and Piastri represents one of the strongest driver line‑ups in the sport and that the team’s unity is a key competitive advantage. Chief executive Zak Brown echoed these sentiments, describing Norris’s journey as a showcase of McLaren’s commitment to nurturing world‑class talent. Brown said, “Lando’s achievements speak for themselves.
Together with Andrea, Oscar and the rest of the staff, he has helped usher McLaren into a new era of success. We are extremely excited about what lies ahead and remain fully focused on competing for wins and championships.” Since joining the squad, Norris has helped transform McLaren from a midfield outfit to a front‑running contender.
The team captured its first constructors’ title in 26 years in 2024, and Norris secured his maiden drivers’ championship the following season after a tight battle with his teammate and Max Verstappen. When asked by Sky Sports News whether the decision to extend was easy, Norris replied, “I would say so. After what we have achieved over the last two years and the fun we have had together since 2019, there is nowhere else I’d rather be.
I know we can achieve a lot more here, and I’m very excited about our future together.” Norris also expressed openness to spending his entire Formula 1 career with McLaren. He said he would be “so proud” to retire having only ever driven for the Woking team, describing McLaren as the only team he has ever known and the place he calls home. While he admits he cannot predict how long his driving career will last—whether he will be 30, 40 or even 50 years old—he is confident that the partnership with McLaren will continue to be mutually rewarding. Looking ahead, the championship will travel to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix from September 4‑6, where McLaren will aim to add more points to their tally.
The race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available via NOW for viewers who prefer an online experience.