Did Lando Norris do the right thing by extending 4 years at McLaren?

Facts : By extending his contract until 2025, Lando Norris was linked to McLaren for the next four years. This is obvious security and a way to ensure a presence in F1 in the medium term, but isn't that a strategic risk? This week, we therefore wonder if Lando Norris did the right thing to extend until 2025 with McLaren.

YES, by Tom Viala

Signing a new contract for four additional seasons at McLaren is necessarily good news for Lando Norris (and for McLaren). Since his arrival in the premier category in 2019, Norris has been comfortably installed in his seat. The young Briton is part of an ambitious project, of which he has become the cornerstone. Zak Brown, the boss of the team, literally made it the gondola head of his project.

It is still necessary to remember that McLaren comes back from nowhere. Or almost. The Woking team is back in the spotlight after several convoluted years, to say the least. Since then, the British team has continued to renew itself. She slowly goes back up the slope. Step by step. Place after place. To the point of competing for the last three seasons for the final step on the manufacturers' podium. And if this positive dynamic is due to many factors, the arrival of a young driver in 2019 named Lando Norris can only be one of these reasons. 

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Yes, because for three years now, McLaren and Lando Norris, each on their own, have been making constant progress. It is even difficult to see a glass ceiling there as the talent of the Briton seems compelling and the ambitions of his team as well – as evidenced by his pole position and his almost victory in Russia. As a reminder, between 2019 and 2021, Norris saw his number of championship points multiply by three. An effect which gains weight with regard to the ranking of the drivers (from 11th to 6th place in three seasons) as well as the Manufacturers (fourth in 2019 and 2021, third in 2020), where the points continue to flow.

And obviously, yes, because the destiny of a historic team like McLaren is to return to the top, especially with a British driver in its ranks. Sooner or later. The team, present in F1 since 1966, has been crowned world champion eight times – the most recent, 1998. It even returned to victory this season. With the extension of Lando Norris' contract for four additional seasons, McLaren is giving itself the means to achieve its means! 

Lando Norris and McLaren, a business that goes well. ©DPPI

NO, by Jeremy Satis

At first glance, it's obviously hard not to view Lando Norris' contract extension as a good thing. The Briton in fact comes from the McLaren nursery, and it is largely thanks to the Woking team that he became the driver he is today. After all, the team led by Zak Brown has great ambitions and does not hide it: it wants to fight for the driver and team world championship titles in the next three years, when it will have its own wind tunnel.

This is commendable, except that the Woking team is not the only one aiming for the world title in 2025. And then, between now and then, a lot can happen. Certainly, McLaren has been working very well for three seasons, but what ensures that this will continue to be the case in the future? Isn't it risky to commit to such a long term, just a few weeks before discovering what the MCL36 has in its belly? 

The example of Charles Leclerc is perhaps the most telling. After a breathtaking 2019 season, the Monegasque extended his lease for five seasons at Ferrari, to ensure security in the team of his dreams. However, 2020 was one of the worst years for Team and in 2021, the venerable red team has not yet regained its former luxury and during this time, the Monegasque has been champing at the bit.

And then, Lando confirmed it himself: he was in discussions with the flagship teams of the championship, Mercedes et Red Bull not to name them. Lewis Hamilton is no longer very far from retirement and a place will become available alongside George Russell in the coming years. Clearly, Lando is one of the most talented drivers of the new generation and it seems quite natural to imagine that he would have been asked for the seat. It seems to be getting more complicated now.

Then, what will happen to him if McLaren plateaus, or worse, regresses? it would be a shame to see him unable to fight for victories or a championship. Many people consider that customer teams, in terms of engines, can no longer be world champions. Lando Norris clearly does not agree! 

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