Lando Norris has claimed that he feels ready to fight against Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton next season if McLaren can provide the required machinery in 2024. The young Brit signed a new long-term contract with the Woking-based team that will keep him with them until after the 2026 technical regulations come into effect.
The Bristol-born driver enjoyed arguably the strongest season of his career to date in 2023, recording six P2 finishes and often ending race weekends having been Verstappen and Red Bull’s biggest threat.
Despite failing to secure his elusive first Grand Prix victory, Norris’ performances last season proved that in race-winning machinery, he can challenge the very best in the sport for regular wins and even World Championships.
This potential was realised by McLaren, who acted fast to deter any interest from Red Bull, extending Norris’ contract – which was set to expire at the end of the 2025 season – with a bumper new deal. This news followed an extension for team-mate Oscar Piastri, who is now tied down until the end of 2026 following a sensational rookie campaign
Speaking after signing his new McLaren deal, Norris said: “Do I think we’re ready to challenge them? Yeah, absolutely. In those situations, and there are opportunities where we’ve been fighting against Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, going against them head-to-head in strategy, pit stops, all of those things, and the majority of times we’ve executed them extremely well.
“When it comes to pressure, I think everyone is in a very good position, but as soon as you mention fighting for a championship, everyone’s mentality just changes a little bit. But I feel I’m ready to go against Max and Lewis and fight against them.
As much as I’d love to say over the next two years, ‘26 is an opportunity for everyone on the grid so that’s the big, big question mark. We’ll see how we do this year and you can ask me that question again.”
Norris also confirmed that both himself and the McLaren team are aligned with their ambitions moving forward. “It’s both the team’s goal and also just a personal goal that I’ve always had,” he continued. “Am I convinced I’m capable of doing it? Yes. Am I convinced the team is capable of doing it? Yes.”
