Lando Norris, loyalty rewarded. Since his debut in Formula 1 in 2019, the Briton has always remained loyal to the Woking team and has experienced the incredible progression of the British team in recent years. Established at a time when McLaren was vegetating in the soft underbelly of the championship, the English driver remained faithful during his last six seasons until reaching the supreme objective in 2024: winning a Constructors' title with his long-standing team, the first since 1998 ! At that time, the Bristol native hadn't even been born yet!
“There have been some very pleasant seasons. We didn't start very well last year, but I had some good moments. It started with [Carlos Sainz] and we moved forward, backward, forward, backward. There was never a click, really, and we couldn't make any progress, remembers Lando Norris. It was difficult to break the barrier that separated us from Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull, because for so long they were the ones who dominated Formula 1. Today, not only did we break that barrier during the year and a half, but we have risen to the top of the hierarchy to become the best and most successful team, with the hope of achieving victories. »
“I had opportunities, but I wanted to do it with McLaren”
McLaren has experienced meteoric progress since the start of 2023. Even less than two years ago, the British team experienced a catastrophic start to the season at the back of the grid, before returning to the front in the second part of the season and confirming in 2024. However, after the first Grands Prix of 2023, Lando Norris was close to leaving McLaren in the face of the Woking team's lack of progress… before finally staying and even extending his contract early 2024. A wise choice and rewarded with a world title, but also his first victories in Formula 1. The Englishman reveals that he could have joined a top team earlier in his career and won his first Grand Prix well before 2024.
“It's definitely been a longer climb than expected to get to where we are, which has been fun and I've really enjoyed it, says the four-time Grand Prix winner in 2024. The thing I am most proud of and happiest is to still be here, to be with the Papayas, because I believed in this team for many years. I had the opportunity to no longer be [chez McLaren] and winning races much earlier in my career… I had those opportunities, but I believed in them and I just wanted to do it with McLaren. »
“I wanted to do it with the guys who gave me my chance in Formula 1, he adds. And while we didn't think it would be possible this year, we would have hoped it would be the case next year. Next year was kind of our baseline goal, on paper. The fact that we have achieved this this year is an even greater achievement. The work is not finished, and Andrea [Stella] will be happy for me to say it, but I'm proud to be part of this adventure, to have done it with McLaren for so many years. » From now on, Lando Norris' last objective with McLaren will obviously be to win the world title… Drivers.
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