Lando Norris, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, explained that his standing within McLaren now allows him to be assertive when he wants to influence decisions after he signed a fresh long‑term deal with the team. Norris clinched his first title in 2025, becoming the first McLaren driver to win the championship since Lewis Hamilton did so in 2008. After a hard‑fought season in which he edged out teammate Oscar Piastri for the crown, Norris has continued to outshine the Australian in the opening stages of the 2026 campaign. The 26‑year‑old Briton’s importance to the Woking outfit was cemented on Saturday when he agreed to extend his contract until at least the close of 2030, with an additional multi‑year option that could keep him at the team even longer.
During an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, Norris reflected on how his role has evolved over the years. “You learn over time when to speak up and when to hold back,” he said. “In the early part of a career you’re careful not to overstep, you don’t raise your voice over anyone else.” He went on to describe how his responsibilities now go far beyond merely piloting the car.
“My job is also about leadership – how can I guide the team, be a voice for the engineers, mechanics and everyone else who works here? How can I push them to improve while also pushing myself? It’s about teamwork and collective ambition.” Norris is entering his eighth season with McLaren, having made his debut for the team as a 19‑year‑old in 2019. With 163 Grand Prix starts, he now holds the team record, surpassing fellow Brit David Coulthard’s 150‑race tally at the Qatar Grand Prix last year.
He added, “I’ve come to understand the influence I have over the direction we take as a team. I never want to misuse that power, but I also recognise that I can be forceful when I need to – whether it’s about the car’s development, team strategy, or the people around me.” Norris stressed that this assertiveness is a necessary part of being an elite athlete in any sport.
“You have to know how to get what you need as an individual while still supporting the group.” According to Norris, the current environment at McLaren is ideal for him. “I’m surrounded by great people – engineers, team leaders, everyone who contributes. The work ethic across the squad is what matters most, and that’s where the real advantage lies.” McLaren’s start to the 2026 season was shaky, and early results threatened Norris’s chances of defending his title.
However, a series of upgrades to the MCL40 have turned the tide, delivering back‑to‑back victories in Hungary and the Netherlands. The win at Zandvoort cut the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 83 points with eleven races left. Norris sits fourth in the standings and must also overtake Antonelli’s teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who are both 59 points behind the Italian.
Comparisons have been drawn to last year’s title fight, when Piastri led Norris by 34 points and Max Verstappen by 104 points with nine rounds remaining, before Red Bull’s form dipped. Norris ultimately secured the championship by a two‑point margin over Verstappen, while Piastri finished 13 points behind his teammate. When asked what he learned from Verstappen’s comeback, Norris replied, “It shows that anything is possible. You have to keep believing, keep working hard and keep motivating the team in the right way.
We didn’t do anything wrong; we simply made a few mistakes as a team.” Norris, who now enjoys a 55‑point advantage over seventh‑placed Piastri, hinted that McLaren may prioritize his championship bid for the remainder of the year. “There wasn’t anything fundamentally wrong with our approach.
We just had two drivers fighting for the same goal. It’s a bit like what Mercedes is experiencing now.” He concluded with a determined outlook: “The lesson is to keep believing that success is possible until it isn’t. That’s the mindset we’ll keep fighting with.” Formula 1 will head to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s home race, on September 4‑6, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Viewers can stream the event via NOW without a contract and cancel at any time.