Lando Norris makes telling Ferrari and Mercedes confession after signing new McLaren contract

Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris has reaffirmed that McLaren was always his "dream" but admits that human nature means different experiences could play a part in his future in the sport.

Norris has signed a new contract with McLaren that will keep him with the Woking outfit until the end of the 2030 season despite interest from rival teams.

The 26-year-old says he is not thinking about those opportunities now, but refuses to rule out a change of scenery - perhaps at Ferrari or Mercedes - when his new deal concludes.

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Lando Norris prioritises happiness over 'instant success'

2025 world champion Norris is a dyed-in-the-wool McLaren man and his new contract will take him to 12 years on the grid as part of the same team.

Speaking to F1 legend Martin Brundle for Sky Sports, Norris conceded that he had opportunities to engage with rival teams but said staying put was an easy decision.

"I'm a driver that personally I would take one or two tougher years over instant success - as I did a few years ago with McLaren," explained the reigning champion.

"A good amount of it is also 'Am I just happy?' I was happy to be with McLaren even when we weren't winning because I'm still in an amazing opportunity and I still get to do the job I love and travel and do all these things.

Norris is enthusiastic about the next four years with the team he loves and told Brundle that following in the footsteps of Lewis Hamilton to take a seat with Ferrari is a matter for the future rather than the present.

While Norris' commitment to McLaren is clear, his openness to new experiences somewhere down the road mark a shift away from bullish notions of retiring as a one-team driver.

""My dream was always to be with McLaren. That's why I feel like I'm in a very fortunate position as I am," he told Brundle.

"But you always want to experience the other side of things, whether that is Ferrari or other teams and Mercedes.

"It's just human. I think that you want to experience what it's like to be in this position and that position.

"For now, I'll say I'm not thinking of it. But ask me again at the end of 2030."

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Patience is a virtue for a happy driver

Norris is settled with McLaren but the team's ability to compete in the long run will be a factor in the future.

The Bristolian is used to racing from the front, finishing in the top six in the world championship standings twice in three years before he was runner-up to Max Verstappen in 2024.

He pipped Verstappen to the title last year but is firmly in the chasing pack behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli this season.

Norris sits in fourth place in the standings after taking the chequered flag in the most recent Grand Prix in the Netherlands last month.

World champions don't tend to follow other drivers happily for long. As contented as Norris might be, it always comes with the expectation that the car will become and remain truly competitive.

McLaren's quest resumes when F1 returns to Monza for the Italian GP this weekend.

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