Norris not waiting for Red Bull: 'With McLaren challenging enough'

Lando Norris is delighted to extend his contract at McLaren. The length of the Briton's contract is not yet clear. Speaking to Sky Sports, he takjed about extending his contract and why he is already doing so, and why he did not wait for a Red Bull seat.

At the beautiful venue McLaren have built in Woking, the question falls as to whether Lando has looked around, at other teams. The Brit responded refreshingly: "I mean, there’s always discussions every now and then. I’m not going to lie and say no, you know. There’s always little discussions and you talk to people and see, you know, what could you offer. It never went further than that.'' Norris had over two years left on his contract, but chose to extend anyway. Why is that? ''here’s always been things in the media and stories being written. That’s not the best thing for everyone here back in the factory. If you’re working away making a part that’s going to be on my car and you see ‘Norris has links to here or there’ it’s never probably the best thing to see. So, for the team’s sake. I think that’s why we wanted to do it now. Just to put those rumors to rest.''

Why not Red Bull?

There was a lot of talk about a seat at Red Bull Racing's team. But Lando doesn't think he needs to drive at the best team to win races and prizes: ''I think if you look at where we ended up last year. I think there was enough races where, considering we’re talking about the most competitive and successful car in history of Formula 1 over a season, and I think you to include the driver in that too. How close we got at certain places with where we started the season. I think it was pretty impressive, you know?  To go from out of the point every single race to being probably the closest team on average to the most successful car that’s ever been in Formula 1.'' That was the moment for Lando to sign on: "I think that showed me, and everyone here at McLaren that we have what it takes to challenge them and therefore, I want to create my own chapter. My own story with McLaren.''