Lando Norris has reiterated his strong commitment to McLaren, saying his long-term ambition is to remain with the team “forever,” while admitting there is only one other Formula 1 team he would ever consider joining.
The 26-year-old Briton, who won his maiden World Championship in 2025, has raced for McLaren since stepping up to Formula 1 in 2019 as a rookie and has built one of the most enduring driver-team relationships on the current grid.
Key highlights
- Lando Norris says McLaren remains his long-term home, with a goal to stay “forever.”
- The 2025 World Champion admits there is only one other F1 team he would ever consider joining, though far in the future.
- Norris has 11 race wins, 16 pole positions and 46 podiums from 159 Grands Prix with McLaren.
- He also helped McLaren secure back-to-back Constructors’ titles in 2024 and 2025.
A decade-long McLaren journey
Norris’ connection with McLaren stretches back nearly a decade, beginning with his entry into the team’s Young Driver Programme in 2017 before his Formula 1 debut in 2019. Since then, he has become a central figure at the Woking-based outfit, setting the record for the most Grand Prix starts for McLaren while consistently delivering front-running performances.
Across 159 Grands Prix, Norris has accumulated 11 wins, 16 pole positions and 46 podium finishes, marking him as one of the team’s most successful modern-era drivers. His peak so far came in 2025, when he claimed his first World Championship title and helped McLaren secure the Constructors’ Championship in both 2024 and 2025.
“Only one place” beyond McLaren
Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast ahead of his home race at Silverstone, Norris acknowledged that while his focus remains firmly on McLaren, there is one other destination in Formula 1 that could interest him in the distant future. However, he was clear that his current contract and mindset keep him fully aligned with McLaren for the foreseeable future.
“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,” he said.
Strong emotional bond with McLaren
Norris emphasized that his relationship with McLaren goes beyond performance, describing the team as family and highlighting his desire to continue building success with them over the long term.
“I want to do as much as I can with McLaren for as long as possible – for five years, 10 years. My contract still goes for a good amount of years so I know I'm not leaving any time soon,” Norris added.
He also reflected on his approach to career decisions, explaining that enjoyment and team environment remain central to his loyalty, even during periods without championship success.
Hunger for more success remains strong
Despite his 2025 title breakthrough, Norris said his motivation has not diminished and that winning has only increased his desire for more success in Formula 1. He pointed to the longevity of champions like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton as proof of how success fuels continued ambition at the highest level of the sport.
“The hunger is still there,” he said. “Success is certainly addictive, it's a drug.”
Norris also acknowledged that while the current season has not matched his championship-winning campaign—sitting fifth in the 2026 standings, one point behind teammate Oscar Piastri amid McLaren’s reliability challenges—his competitive drive remains unchanged.
