Lando Norris Banned from Rally Racing as McLaren Prioritizes F1 Title Push
McLaren Racing has drawn a clear boundary for their star driver, Lando Norris, as CEO Zak Brown enforces a ban preventing him from participating in other motorsport events — specifically rallying in the World Rally Championship (WRC). Despite Norris’s known enthusiasm for the rally scene, McLaren has made it clear: their primary focus is keeping their top talent safe and fully committed to Formula 1.
The 25-year-old Brit, a five-time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner, has been a consistent threat at the front of the grid and was even considered a title contender during the 2024 season. However, his hopes were ultimately dashed by the unrelenting dominance of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who surged in the second half of the year to secure his fourth consecutive world title.
As the 2025 season unfolds, Norris’s campaign has gotten off to a rocky start. After five races, he has yet to claim a victory and currently sits behind his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by 10 points in the standings. Piastri’s increasingly competitive performances have added pressure on Norris, who now finds himself in the unfamiliar position of trailing within his own team.
Norris has long admired rally driving and has spoken openly about his desire to try his hand in the WRC. However, McLaren’s leadership has firmly denied him the opportunity. During the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, Norris addressed rumors circulating in the media that suggested he was gearing up for a rally test. He quickly dismissed the reports.
“I really wanted to come in here and say, ‘Yeah, it’s true,’ but it’s not,” Norris told reporters. “A few years ago, I was told I’m not allowed. Zak doesn’t let me drive rally cars — probably for a good reason — but I’ve always said I’d love to.”
Norris went on to express frustration with the media for spreading misinformation, criticizing journalists for not verifying details before publishing stories. “It’s so weird how people come up with these things,” he said. “It just shows how bad some of the media can be, rather than asking me directly.”
While the restriction might appear harsh to some fans, such policies are standard across the F1 paddock. Formula 1 contracts frequently include clauses that prohibit drivers from participating in high-risk sports or activities, particularly during the racing season. These measures are designed to protect teams’ multimillion-dollar investments and ensure their drivers are physically fit for each race.
Norris’s situation mirrors that of Max Verstappen, who revealed in 2024 that his Red Bull contract barred him from skiing. The logic is clear: F1 teams can’t afford to lose a driver to an off-track injury, especially when championship points and team standings hang in the balance.
The risk isn’t just theoretical. In early 2023, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll suffered a significant setback when he broke his wrist during a cycling accident over the winter break. The injury forced him to miss key pre-season testing and nearly ruled him out of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. Incidents like these have pushed teams to further tighten the reins on their drivers’ off-track activities.
McLaren’s decision to limit Norris’s extracurricular motorsport ambitions underscores their commitment to fighting for top results in 2025. With the championship still wide open, and internal team dynamics heating up, they’re keen to avoid unnecessary distractions or risks.
Despite the setback in pursuing rallying, Norris remains focused on the challenges ahead in Formula 1. He heads into the upcoming Miami Grand Prix knowing he needs to respond strongly to regain the upper hand over Piastri. With pressure mounting and the title race beginning to take shape, every point matters — and McLaren wants their lead driver fully locked in.
While his dream of drifting through rally stages may have to wait, Norris is determined to keep pushing forward where it counts: on the F1 grid. And for now, that’s exactly where McLaren wants him to be — safe, focused, and in the hunt for championship glory.
