Lando Norris has revealed McLaren’s Formula 1 rivals showed “some interest” before he penned his multi-year contract extension.
The Woking-based team revealed on Saturday that Norris had committed his long term future to it after signing a deal that would see him at McLaren until at least 2030.
The Briton has been with the team since his debut on the grid, in 2019, having climbed the junior formulas part of its driver programme.
In the past, Norris has been pursued by McLaren’s rivals, most notably Red Bull. He revealed that this season has been no different as he was approached by other teams while talks with McLaren were ongoing.
“There was some interest from elsewhere,” he told BBC Sport.
That said, signing the contract extension with McLaren was one of the “easiest decisions” he has made.
“But I don’t want to go anywhere. I don’t want to be with another team. I don’t want to spend time with other people,” he added.
“That’s why it really was probably one of the easiest decisions I’ve made since being in Formula 1.”
“[Contract talks] became a topic of conversation over the last four months or so, but very loosely in the background”
Lando Norris ready to “fight through anything” with McLaren
Norris’ vote of confidence comes amid a period of transformation for McLaren.
The Woking-based squad started F1’s latest era on the backfoot compared to the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari.
The last two rounds, however, have seen Norris win back-to-back races at Hungary and the Netherlands, respectively.
This has been down to constant work back at base, and a stream of efficient upgrades bolted onto the MCL40.
Looking forward to his tenure with McLaren, Norris is ready to “fight through anything”, and believes the mentality within the team is crucial to why neither has “given up” on the other.
“The fact I stuck it through with them and then we went on to obviously have success certainly makes me feel like I don’t want to… they didn’t give up on me, and I didn’t give up on them,” Norris explained.
“That just creates a very strong bond between everyone that works here. I want to believe that bond stays as strong as it is now until I do retire in my career at Formula 1.
“I know that’s a long, long way away, and I don’t want to think of it.
“But I believe we’re in the best place we’ve ever been, even with a tough start to the season, and I believe that we can fight through anything together for sure.”
Norris heads into the race weekend at Monza on the cusp of getting three consecutive wins in F1 for the first time in his career.
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