Lando Norris has committed his long-term future to McLaren, signing a contract extension that will keep him with the team until at least the end of the 2030 Formula 1 season. The announcement was made today, Saturday, August 29, 2026.
The reigning 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion confirmed that there had been interest from rival teams before finalizing his new deal. Norris, however, expressed no desire to depart from the Woking-based outfit.
Norris stated, ‘There was interest from other teams, but there was no interest (from me) towards other teams.’ He further elaborated, ‘It really was the easiest decision I’ve had to make in my career so far.’
The 26-year-old British driver, who joined McLaren’s junior programme in 2017 and made his F1 debut in 2019, has now raced in 163 Grands Prix for the team. This marks more starts than any other McLaren driver in history.
His commitment follows a successful period for McLaren, which secured consecutive Constructors’ Championships in 2024 and 2025. Norris’s maiden World Championship in 2025 was the team’s first drivers’ title since 2008.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown expressed satisfaction with the extension, highlighting Norris’s journey as an example of the team’s commitment to developing world-class talent. Brown noted Norris’s role in McLaren’s return to success.
Team Principal Andrea Stella described Norris as an ‘exceptional driver’ who combines natural speed with maturity and consistency. Stella emphasized Norris’s value as a ‘special human being’ within the team.
Norris’s new contract includes a multi-year option to extend beyond 2030, solidifying a long-term partnership. This stability is seen as crucial for McLaren’s ongoing competitive trajectory.
The extension comes shortly after Max Verstappen also committed to Red Bull until the end of 2030, an announcement made ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix last weekend. These long-term deals are significant in the current driver market.
Despite a challenging start to the 2026 season, McLaren has shown resilience, securing podium finishes and a Grand Prix victory in Hungary. Norris also won the Dutch Grand Prix on August 23.
Norris currently sits fourth in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship standings, trailing Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by 83 points. He is aiming for a successful title defense in the remaining 11 races.
Norris articulated his desire to remain with McLaren for his entire career, viewing the team as his ‘home’ and a ‘second family’. He values the strong bonds built with team members over the years.
‘McLaren is my home, and I’m very pleased to be signing a new contract to keep me with the team until at least 2030,’ Norris stated. ‘When I started this journey nine years ago, I was clear about the goals I wanted to achieve: to get McLaren back to the front and to win championships. We’ve achieved that goal, but we want more; we want to keep on winning, and we know as a team that we’re capable of achieving it.’
The British driver will be gifted an MCL39, the car he raced during his 2025 World Championship-winning season. This serves as a tangible recognition of his contributions to the team’s success.
Norris will also race with the number one on his car in 2026, a privilege reserved for the reigning World Champion. This marks the first time a McLaren car has carried the number one since Jenson Button in 2010.
