Lando Norris Reveals Past Exit Talks Amid McLaren Triumph
Lando Norris has dropped a surprising revelation about his Formula 1 journey with McLaren, admitting he previously had opportunities to leave the team in pursuit of earlier career victories. Despite those offers, Norris chose to remain loyal to the Woking-based outfit—a decision he now celebrates after an exceptional 2024 season that saw him secure four career victories, 26 podiums, and, most notably, help McLaren clinch their first constructors’ championship since 1998.
McLaren emerged as Red Bull’s fiercest competitor throughout the 2024 campaign, with Ferrari adding further tension in the battle for supremacy. As the season reached its dramatic conclusion in Abu Dhabi, McLaren and Ferrari entered the final race on equal footing in the constructors’ standings, while Red Bull was already out of contention due to Sergio Perez’s inconsistent performances.
The Abu Dhabi showdown proved thrilling. While both Ferrari drivers finished on the podium, Norris’s teammate, Oscar Piastri, was forced into a recovery drive after an early collision left him at the back of the grid. However, Norris delivered a stellar performance, securing his fourth career win and sealing the championship for McLaren.
Reflecting on the achievement, Norris spoke about what the moment meant to him. “The thing I’ll be proudest and happiest about is the fact I’m still here,” he shared. “The fact I’m still in papaya because I believed in the team for many years.”
Norris acknowledged that during the less successful periods of his career, rival teams had approached him with offers to join their ranks. These opportunities could have provided him with the chance to win races earlier in his career. However, the 25-year-old remained steadfast in his commitment to McLaren, the team that gave him his Formula 1 debut in 2019.
“I had opportunities to not be in papaya and to maybe go on and win races at an earlier stage in my career,” Norris admitted. “But I believed, and I wanted to simply do it with McLaren. I wanted to do it with the people who gave me my opportunity in Formula 1.”
Norris also expressed his pride in the team’s unexpected triumph. While their initial goal was to contend for the championship in 2025, surpassing those expectations this season made the achievement even more meaningful.
“As much as we didn’t think it was going to be possible this year, we were hoping for next year,” he said. “Next year was our kind of in-line target, on-paper target. The fact we’re doing it this year is an even bigger achievement.”
With the 2024 season now behind him, Norris looks ahead to the future with optimism. His loyalty to McLaren has paid off in spectacular fashion, solidifying his place as one of Formula 1’s brightest stars while ensuring McLaren’s resurgence as a championship-winning team.
