Daily News 19

Category: Sports

Sports news, viral moments, athletes, teams, and major competitions.

  • Katie Boulter Says Cannabis Smell at US Open Is Distracting

    Katie Boulter Says Cannabis Smell at US Open Is Distracting

    The smell of cannabis has become a recurring issue at the US Open, with players repeatedly raising concerns about smoking near the tournament grounds.

    In 2022, Australian Open doubles champion Nick Kyrgios complained that a fan smoking courtside was triggering his asthma, prompting the umpire to ask spectators to refrain. Greece’s Maria Sakkari also pointed out the smell to an umpire midway through a set in 2023, although she later clarified that it was not an excuse for her defeat.

    The United States Tennis Association, which organises the US Open, said it is working with local police and the parks department to reduce smoking around the boundary of the site.

    It said: “While we can’t control what takes place off the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, we continue to be vigilant as we maintain this.”

    Britain’s Fran Jones and Harriet Dart, who both qualified on Friday, have also noticed the smell.

    “Last year I made a joke about that, in my first round, and I said to the guy, ‘is this normal?’” said Jones, whose tournament begins against Poland’s Magda Linette on Monday.

    “Because I was on the stadium, and it’s next to the park. He’s like, ‘yeah”. and I was like: ‘Well, no wonder I’m playing pretty well.’”

    “This year I’ll be like ‘no, lock in, lock in!’”

    After beating British compatriot Heather Watson in qualifying to set up a first-round match against the United States’ Peyton Stearns, Dart said: “I mean it’s New York. It’s New York. “

    “I feel like everywhere you walk around, it’s everywhere, no?”

    “It is what it is. Same for everyone.”

  • Lando Norris’ McLaren Contract Extension Includes Detail F1 Fans Are Talking About

    Lando Norris’ McLaren Contract Extension Includes Detail F1 Fans Are Talking About

    One detail of Lando Norris’s new McLaren contract extension has particularly impressed Formula 1 fans, who have described the agreement as “well deserved”.

    The reigning F1 world champion has signed a contract extension that will keep him with McLaren until at least the end of 2030. As part of the deal, the 26-year-old will also receive the MCL39 chassis in which he secured his maiden drivers’ championship in 2025.

    Norris made his McLaren debut in 2019 and has now started 163 grands prix for the Woking-based team, more than any other driver. The Briton’s career record includes 13 grand prix victories, 48 podium finishes, 18 pole positions, 20 fastest laps, 1,589 points and one drivers’ title.

    “The perfect choice for both sides, Lando showed McLaren loyalty and it more than paid off with a title, so he deserves a new mega deal. He might possibly be a one-team guy for his career, and he might not be done winning titles either,”

    one fan commented on Reddit.

    “Well deserved. I hope this comes with a big salary increase because he’s been one of the best drivers on the grid this season and has a title. He literally reminds me of Button after 2009 but with a higher skill ceiling.”

    another fan posted.

    Lando Norris, McLaren
    Lando Norris, McLaren. Photo by: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images

    Lando Norris’s championship-winning McLaren chassis

    The decision to give Norris his championship-winning MCL39 quickly became a major talking point among fans.

    “This is such a beautiful gesture from McLaren to give Lando the championship-winning car. Well-deserved extension with the loyalty he’s given them from the very beginning and paid off well with the title last year. Plus, with what he’s been doing so far this season, even with the reliability woes earlier in the year, he’s going to be competitive with them for much longer,”

    another fan wrote.

    “Big fat contract extension and he’s being gifted his championship-winning car. What a day for the lad!”

    someone else posted, while another commented:

    “Such an insane gift to be able to get your first championship-winning car. Fully deserved. He’s stuck with the team through thick and thin! Bro is for sure going to celebrate tonight.”

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • ‘I prefer to wait’: Mourinho delivers Tchouameni and Endrick injury updates

    ‘I prefer to wait’: Mourinho delivers Tchouameni and Endrick injury updates

    Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Endrick and Aurelien Tchouameni have not fully recovered from their injuries and will miss tomorrow’s La Liga match against Malaga.

    “Endrick’s close to returning, the closest.

    Source: tribuna.com

  • George Russell Treats Mercedes Team Members to Special Silverstone Karting Event

    George Russell Treats Mercedes Team Members to Special Silverstone Karting Event

    George Russell celebrated Mercedes’ double podium at the Dutch Grand Prix by rewarding team members from the Brackley and Brixworth facilities with a private karting event at Silverstone Circuit.

    Mercedes confirmed the event on social media, posting on X: “Swapping the W17 for the kart. All smiles as George treated team members from both Brackley and Brixworth to a special karting experience at Silverstone.”

    Russell joins Mercedes staff for Silverstone karting day

    The event brought together employees from Mercedes’ main headquarters in Brackley and Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP) in Brixworth.

    “We’re here at Silverstone doing a team karting day,” Russell told the camera. “A thousand people applied from Brackley and Brixworth, but we can only fit 170 people. Really looking forward to it, and I’m going to be racing with them.”

    After the staff had completed several laps, Russell put on his race suit and joined them on track. He also handed out medals to the participants at the end of the event.

    Fans responded positively to footage of Russell enjoying the day. One commenter on X wrote: “It’s so nice seeing George this happy. It makes you realise how different things could be with a bit more support. Obviously, I’m not talking about Marcus, Katsu, and the others; you know full well who the problem is…”

    Another fan added: “I really love how happy George looks for the entire day. He really loves this team.”

    Some comments took a more sarcastic tone, including: “Just give him the kart at Monza. Probably be more reliable” and “He finally gets a reliable car, no wonder he’s happy.”

    Mercedes leads 2026 constructors’ championship

    The karting event comes during a strong 2026 campaign for Mercedes. The team currently leads the constructors’ championship with 425 points, while Ferrari is second on 338 points.

    Russell sits second in the drivers’ championship, 59 points behind his team-mate Kimi Antonelli. He is level on points with Lewis Hamilton.

    The 13th round of the season will be held at Monza during the Italian Grand Prix weekend from 4-6 September.

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • Pep Guardiola’s Departure Triggers an Unprecedented Exodus at Manchester City

    Pep Guardiola’s Departure Triggers an Unprecedented Exodus at Manchester City

    The arrival of Sheikh Mansour transformed Manchester City’s history. Since then, the club has won eight Premier League titles and, most notably, its first long-awaited Champions League trophy, after investing €3.39 billion in signings—second only to Chelsea’s €3.86 billion.

    However, Pep Guardiola’s departure has triggered an exodus that is turning Manchester City’s transfer market into a record-breaking summer.

    Manchester City’s record income from player sales

    In recent years, Manchester City have also become an exemplary club in the way they offload assets to help finance new signings. Since the summer of 2022, the club have generated more than €100 million in player-sales income in every season.

    The previous record came in 2022-23, when City collected €161.9 million from player departures. That figure has more than doubled during the current transfer window, reaching €336.9 million.

    Manchester City’s player-sales income since Sheikh Mansour’s arrival:

    • 2008-09: €26.5 million
    • 2009-10: €29.4 million
    • 2010-11: €40.1 million
    • 2011-12: €31.45 million
    • 2012-13: €44.3 million
    • 2013-14: €11.3 million
    • 2014-15: €30.3 million
    • 2015-16: €67.4 million
    • 2016-17: €35.3 million
    • 2017-18: €91.3 million
    • 2018-19: €57.6 million
    • 2019-20: €71 million
    • 2020-21: €64 million
    • 2021-22: €93.8 million
    • 2022-23: €161.97 million
    • 2023-24: €138.82 million
    • 2024-25: €141.7 million
    • 2025-26: €107.2 million
    • 2026-27: €336.9 million

    Pep Guardiola bids emotional farewell after 10 years at Manchester City

    Enzo Maresca continues City’s rebuilding project

    The appointment of Enzo Maresca took longer than expected because of legal matters awaiting resolution with Chelsea. His arrival was intended to continue the rebuilding process started under Guardiola, who had Maresca on his coaching staff during the 2022-23 season.

    “He was the candidate who stood out the most in our evaluations. We know his personality and his vision of how football should be played. He is upright, charismatic, and passionate. In addition to his successes at Chelsea and Leicester, his track record at City speaks for itself,” explained Ferran Soriano, the club’s CEO.

    “Probably the reason I’m here is also because the club’s idea is to maintain the same style and approach. But we’re going to try to do what matters most, which is to win,” pointed out Enzo Maresca, who also sought to distance himself from Guardiola.

    “I’m not here to try to be a copy of anyone. Every coach is different. Probably, I don’t see football in the same way as the previous coach.”

    I’m not here to try to be a copy of anyone

    — Enzo Maresca, Manchester City coach

    Five of City’s 10 major departures arrived within two years

    To some extent, the plan had been to continue moving on players from the 2023 treble-winning squad, including John Stones, Nathan Aké, Manuel Akanji, Bernardo Silva and even Rodri Hernández, who had one year remaining on his contract.

    Nevertheless, Maresca has not opposed dismantling the squad assembled during the previous transfer windows. Five of Manchester City’s 10 major departures this summer involved players who had been at the club for less than two years.

    Savinho has overtaken Julián Alvarez as the most expensive sale in Manchester City’s history, with the transfer valued at €88 million. Tijjani Reijnders, sold for €61 million, and Rodri, who moved for €60 million, have also entered the club’s top five biggest sales.

    Looking at City’s 10 biggest transfers out, Nico González also features after his €56 million move. The list additionally includes James Trafford, who has become the most expensive English goalkeeper of all time after Leeds paid €47 million, and Marmoush, who joined Tottenham on loan with an obligation to buy—subject to conditions—set at €58 million.

    Manchester City’s most expensive sales:

    • Savinho: $87.7 million, Tottenham
    • Julián Alvarez: €75 million, Atlético de Madrid
    • Tijjani Reijnders: €61 million, Al Qadsiah
    • Rodri Hernández: €60 million, Barcelona
    • Raheem Sterling: €56.2 million, Chelsea
    • Nico González: €56 million, Newcastle
    • Ferran Torres: €55 million, Barcelona
    • Gabriel Jesus: €52 million, Arsenal
    • Leroy Sané: €49 million, Bayern Munich
    • Cole Palmer: $47 million, Chelsea

    City have spent €274 million on new signings

    The scale of Manchester City’s transfer income has overshadowed the fact that the club have spent €274 million on signings this summer. Only Chelsea (€398 million) and Tottenham (€354 million) have spent more.

    Most of City’s spending has gone toward Elliot Anderson, the most expensive signing in the club’s history at €135 million, and Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has become the 18-year-old player for whom the highest transfer fee has ever been paid, at €95 million.

    They have also signed Detourbet for €25 million before loaning him to Monaco after his arrival from City’s Troyes ‘affiliate’, as well as the highly rated young Jeremy Monga, born in 2009, Gero Rulli for €3.5 million and Pierce Charles for €3.5 million.

    “It’s the market and anything can happen. We’ll see, there are still four or five days left. But, at this moment, it’s quite complicated for me to think about this,” he said ahead of the match against Crystal Palace.

    He did, however, stress that he would like “to have two players for each position.” If that is not possible, Maresca will turn to the academy, where McAidoo, Floyd Samba and Kaden Braithwaite are pushing for opportunities.

    It’s the market and anything can happen

    — Enzo Maresca, Manchester City coach

    Manchester City still targeting late signings

    Maresca is not satisfied with the squad, despite the first signs of progress in the match against Crystal Palace.

    Allan, a winger from Palmeiras, is set to arrive after City agreed a €40 million transfer to fill the gap left by Savinho. Enzo Fernández could also become the major late-window signing, with a potential fee that would surpass Elliot Anderson’s and make him the most expensive signing in Manchester City’s history.

    With four days remaining in the transfer window, fresh money is available in Manchester City’s Etihad coffers.

  • Lando Norris Signs New McLaren Contract Through 2030

    Lando Norris Signs New McLaren Contract Through 2030

    Lando Norris says extending his McLaren contract until at least the end of 2030 was “quite an easy yes for me”.

    The reigning world champion’s new deal was announced on Saturday. Norris said he “didn’t even have a look” at offers from other Formula 1 teams before committing his future to McLaren, where he has raced since making his F1 debut in 2019.

    “There was some interest from elsewhere,” Norris said in an interview with BBC Sport, “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.”

    “That’s why it really was probably one of the easiest decisions I’ve made since being in Formula 1.”

    Norris chose McLaren despite outside interest

    The 26-year-old was not under pressure to make an immediate decision, as his previous McLaren contract still had more than a year to run. However, he said discussions about a new agreement had gradually emerged in recent months and that he had no doubts about staying.

    Norris said his loyalty to McLaren is rooted in the relationships he has developed within the team, including with chief executive officer Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella, as well as the shared journey they have experienced.

    After Norris entered Formula 1 in 2019, McLaren spent several seasons struggling to compete at the front. The team’s performance improved rapidly after Stella became team principal at the end of 2022.

    McLaren won consecutive constructors’ championships in 2024 and 2025, ending a title drought that had stretched back to 1998. Norris also secured the drivers’ championship last year.

    “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.”

    “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 ’til 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.”

  • Mbappé Chases 100 Real Madrid Goals With Cristiano Ronaldo’s Record in Sight

    Mbappé Chases 100 Real Madrid Goals With Cristiano Ronaldo’s Record in Sight

    November 2 could become a landmark date in Kylian Mbappé’s Real Madrid career. On the same day in 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th goal for the Spanish club at Lyon’s stadium, during his third season in white and with José Mourinho as coach.

    Ronaldo reached the milestone in 105 matches, setting a record for the fastest Real Madrid player to score 100 goals that he still shares with Erling Haaland. Mbappé now has just over two months to challenge that mark.

    Mbappé’s rapid Real Madrid scoring record

    Since arriving in Madrid, Mbappé has moved through the club’s goalscoring milestones at remarkable speed. During his first season, he scored 44 goals in the white shirt, including 31 in La Liga, numbers that earned him the European Golden Boot.

    His individual performances did not translate into team success. Real Madrid endured a disappointing campaign, exiting the Champions League in the quarter-finals and suffering defeats in La Liga and the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona. Even so, Mbappé’s figures become more significant when compared with Ronaldo’s 33 goals during his debut season at the club under broadly similar circumstances.

    Kylian Mbappé looks like a dwarf standing next to Victor Wembanyama in resurfaced video

    “The second spell got off to a rough start. With Xabi Alonso’s arrival on the bench, Kylian began his journey alongside the man from Tolosa hampered by a severe bout of gastroenteritis that kept him out of the plans for weeks, made him lose weight and delayed his return to full fitness at the Club World Cup. And yet, when he switched on for the real business, he did so like a whirlwind. He went on to score in eight consecutive matchdays and equaled Cristiano’s goal record in a calendar year, with 59 goals.”

    “But spring brought disenchantment with it. The team suffered a slump that, combined with the knee problems Kylian had been carrying since January, led to a new debacle, this time with Arbeloa already in charge. Even so, the Frenchman still produced an outstanding season in front of goal. 42 goals in the four competitions, though once again without lifting silverware and, on this occasion, without reclaiming the Golden Boot, although he secured his second consecutive Pichichi.”

    Mbappé needs 11 goals to match Ronaldo

    Mbappé now has 89 goals in 105 appearances for Real Madrid after scoring a hat-trick against Real Sociedad on the second matchday of the league season. The comparison with Ronaldo is unavoidable: the Portuguese forward also reached 100 goals in his 105th match.

    Mbappé has therefore matched Ronaldo’s appearance total at this stage, but he remains 11 goals short of the record he is pursuing.

    Twelve matches to reach 100 goals

    The schedule gives Mbappé an opportunity, although not a large one. Before November 2, he has nine La Liga matches and three Champions League group-stage fixtures in which to become the fastest player in Real Madrid history to score 100 goals.

    Scoring 11 times in 12 matches would be an imposing demand, but it is not beyond a striker of Mbappé’s quality.

    The scale of the challenge is clearer when looking at his recent scoring rate. Just a year ago, on September 16, 2025, Mbappé passed the 50-goal mark after scoring twice against Marseille in the Champions League. The possibility of reaching 100 goals just 12 months later underlines the French forward’s extraordinary scoring appetite.

    November 2 is now the target. Whether Mbappé reaches the milestone in time to claim the record remains to be seen.

    Source: www.marca.com

  • Why Lando Norris and McLaren Are Committed to a Long-Term Partnership

    Why Lando Norris and McLaren Are Committed to a Long-Term Partnership

    Some sporting partnerships are built to last. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, and Lando Norris and McLaren are among them.

    On Saturday, McLaren announced that Norris had signed a new contract keeping him with the team until at least the end of 2030.

    Why Lando Norris committed to McLaren

    When Zak Brown first met a young aspiring racer named Lando Norris, he quickly decided that the Briton had the potential to become a World Champion. Brown was proved right last year when the 26-year-old held off team-mate Oscar Piastri and a charging Max Verstappen to win the Drivers’ World Championship.

    That title success came in the ninth year of Norris and McLaren’s relationship. It began in 2017, when the 17-year-old walked through the doors of the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking to sign a contract as a test and development driver.

    Norris made an immediate impression at McLaren, and the team made an equally strong impression on him. They have grown together, endured difficult periods together and celebrated success together. Each has consistently supported the other.

    That is the kind of environment in which Norris thrives. In his first interview since the announcement, he said he was with the people he wanted to be with and that “for me, that’s calming”.

    Norris’ previous contract ran until at least the end of 2027, meaning there was no urgent need to negotiate a new agreement. Brown and Norris both knew they were happy with the partnership and wanted it to continue. So why agree a new deal now?

    Following Norris’ World Championship victory last year, McLaren’s first Drivers’ World Championship title since Lewis Hamilton won in 2008, the plan was always to discuss extending and improving their agreement.

    Over the past few months, both sides focused on the new terms. They were certain they wanted to continue beyond 2027 and commit to a long-term partnership, which in this case means at least the next four years.

    The agreement is understood to represent a genuine commitment from both parties, rather than a contract containing clauses that would allow either side to leave at the end of each season.

    Norris wanted a long-term deal to provide stability for himself and those around him, while putting an end to persistent speculation about his future that could become a distraction.

    Knowing he will remain at McLaren until at least the end of 2030, when he will be 31, allows Norris to focus on working with the team to add to his race wins and World Championship total.

    He also believes McLaren have the ingredients required to keep winning. Norris regards Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella as “incredible” leaders, while believing the people working alongside him are the best in the business and are moving in the same direction.

    From Norris’ perspective, there was therefore no compelling reason to change teams.

    McLaren secure a World Champion for the future

    McLaren have watched Norris develop from a rising star into a World Champion. The team supported him through every stage, from signing his first contract and taking his first pole position to claiming his maiden Grand Prix victory and winning the title.

    McLaren know exactly what they have in Norris and understand his value, so they had no desire to let him leave.

    Securing the driver for at least another four years provides certainty for the team’s shareholders and partners while discouraging interest from the many potential suitors elsewhere in the Formula 1 paddock.

    The driver market could become particularly competitive in 2028, making Norris’ early contract extension a clear statement of McLaren’s intentions and a warning to their rivals.

    Trust and belief in each other formed the foundations of Norris and McLaren’s relationship in 2017. A decade on, they remain its cornerstones.

    With team-mate Piastri contracted until the end of 2028, and both sides believed to be very satisfied with their relationship, McLaren are well placed for the future as they seek to build a papaya-coloured dynasty in the years ahead.

  • Lando Norris Exclusive Interview: Why the 2025 World Champion Sees His Future at McLaren After Signing a New Long-Term Extension

    Lando Norris Exclusive Interview: Why the 2025 World Champion Sees His Future at McLaren After Signing a New Long-Term Extension

    Lando Norris is extending his McLaren contract until at least the end of 2030, reaffirming his commitment to the Formula 1 team after a highly successful partnership.

    The new deal will keep Norris at McLaren for at least 12 years by the time it expires, matching the length of Lewis Hamilton’s time with Mercedes. The agreement represents a major vote of confidence between the British driver and the team where he began his Formula 1 career.

    “I’m very, very excited,” he says in his first interview since the news was announced. “McLaren’s been my home since the very, very beginning of my career in Formula 1 and I want it to stay that way for as long as possible. We’ve had a great few years and I’m confident we can achieve that many more times. So I want to stay.”

    Norris joined McLaren as a test and development driver before becoming a reserve driver. He earned a full-time race seat in 2019 alongside Carlos Sainz, then claimed his first podium at the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix and his first pole position in Russia in 2021.

    His first Formula 1 victory came in Miami in 2024. He followed it with his first Monaco win in 2025 and then secured his maiden British Grand Prix victory at Silverstone later that year. Norris also went on to win his first World Championship, giving McLaren its first drivers’ title since 2008.

    The driver and team have experienced every stage of Norris’s career together, and neither wants to change a partnership that continues to work. The contract extension also provides stability and allows both sides to focus on performance.

    “I know for a good amount more years that I’m comfortable in terms of I’ve got a job and I’m where I want to be, and with the people that I want to be with, and for me that’s calming,” he says. “I can focus on a job I need to do and as a team we can also focus on the job that we want to do.”

    He adds: “You can always see results as most important and 99% of the time I think they are, but I would say there’s leeway, there’s leverage in terms of just the fact I’m with the people that I want to be with, people that I enjoy spending my career with.”

    “I don’t want to be bouncing around teams and doing different things. I want be where I’m happy and, even when we weren’t winning, I was also happy to be part of McLaren.

    “I think something I always know for my future is I want results of course – the team know that just as much as anyone – but I also just want to be wherever I’m most happy and even if we’re not winning like the beginning of this year, it’s not like I want to change team.

    “I’m still very happy with who I am with and happy to kind of fight through whatever we have coming up.”

    McLaren fighting back after slow start

    McLaren’s recent resurgence has strengthened the team’s position in the Formula 1 championship. The reigning World Champions endured a difficult start to the season, with McLaren failing to take the start at the season opener in Australia and both cars failing to start the following race in China.

    An upgrade introduced in Hungary before the summer break brought McLaren into contention and helped Norris claim his first win of the season. Further upgrades were added at Zandvoort after the break, where Norris took pole position and secured a second consecutive victory.

    Norris remains 83 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, but he and McLaren have built momentum. Last year, Max Verstappen recovered from a 104-point deficit to force a title decider in Abu Dhabi, meaning Norris remains firmly in contention to defend his championship.

    That comeback reflects the potential Norris believes McLaren has, but it was not the reason behind his contract renewal. Discussions had already been planned after Norris won the world title in Abu Dhabi the previous year.

    Norris knew he wanted to stay, while McLaren wanted to retain him. Both sides were keen to remove uncertainty about his future and discourage interest from rival teams.

    “It’s a continuation of my last [contract],” he says. “We just want to be able to focus on doing our best job, to extract performance, to get the most out of everyone and focus on the importance that we do not get caught up in the mess of everyone else deciding contracts.

    “I don’t want to distract my team, I don’t want to distract the guys and girls here that are here to give me the best car possible and for me to do the best job for them.

    “We want to focus on our jobs and not think about all the noise that goes on in the sidelines. So for me it’s ‘guys I’m here to stay. I want to be with you for a long time’ and it gives them a good boost, gives me a good boost and together it means we can just focus.”

    Norris praises McLaren leadership

    Norris also expressed confidence in the McLaren structure led by CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella.

    “Zak is a very good leader, he’s a very good boss,” says Norris.

    “As much as we get on and we just, we love racing, we want to win together, we enjoy golf and things, he is still my boss so he still gives me a kick whenever I do something wrong or if I’m not doing something well enough.

    “That’s always what I want – someone that’s honest and who gives me the brutal truth no matter what it is and that something that’s very important to me.”

    “At the same time I have that very much so with Andrea, and Andrea is for me – and of course I’m biased and this is the only place I’ve been – but we have had a few different team principals and he is most certainly the most influential over the team.

    “He is an incredible leader, someone who knows how to bring a group of people together and also knows how to lead individuals such as me in terms of how I can go out and increase my performance every day and be a better person.

    “So, even if I could change anything with where I am now, I wouldn’t and I think that’s the perfect reason.”

    Norris will be 31 when his latest McLaren contract expires, and he suggested that he could remain with the team for the rest of his career. He already holds the record for the most starts for McLaren.

    “I want to make this my home,” says the Briton, who holds the record for the most starts for McLaren. “I want it to be the place that I am at for a very, very long time and maybe even forever.

    “There are more nice things that just allow me to work better here and live better here, and that’s an amazing thing.”

    Source: www.formula1.com

  • Lando Norris Extends McLaren Contract Through the 2030 F1 Season

    Lando Norris Extends McLaren Contract Through the 2030 F1 Season

    Lando Norris signs McLaren contract extension through at least 2030

    Lando Norris and McLaren have agreed to a long-term contract extension that will keep the reigning Formula 1 world champion with the team until at least 2030.

    McLaren announced the agreement on Saturday morning, confirming that Norris had committed to the team through 2030, with multi-year options to extend his stay further. The 26-year-old personally shared the news with staff at McLaren’s Woking factory during the team’s annual family and friends open day.

    “McLaren is my home, and I’m very pleased to be signing a new contract to keep me with the team until at least 2030,” Norris said. “When I started this journey nine years ago, I was clear about the goals I wanted to achieve: to get McLaren back to the front and to win championships.

    “We’ve achieved that goal, but we want more, we want to keep on winning, and we know as a team that we’re capable of achieving it. I can’t wait to get back in the car in Monza and I’m very excited about what the future holds for us, both over the rest of this season, and in the coming years.”

    Norris commits future to McLaren

    Norris’s previous contract was due to run until the end of 2027, meaning the new deal extends his expected stay at Woking by at least four years. His team-mate Oscar Piastri remains under contract through the end of 2028 after signing an extension at the start of last year.

    Although Formula 1 salaries are rarely disclosed, Norris is expected to receive a significant pay rise following his world championship success and continued development as a driver. He has made a strong start to 2026, taking advantage of McLaren’s car upgrades to win the most recent grands prix in Hungary and the Netherlands.

    Lando Norris, McLaren. Photo by: Pauline Ballet – Formula 1

    As part of the celebrations surrounding his new contract, Norris was also presented with his championship-winning 2025 car, the MCL39.

    Team principal Andrea Stella said he was “delighted” to continue working with Norris for the foreseeable future.

    “He is an exceptional driver, someone who combines outstanding natural speed with maturity, consistency and a strong commitment to McLaren, but above all, he is a special human being who is valued by everyone in the team,” Stella said.

    “Since joining McLaren as part of our junior programme, he has grown with us and played a central role in bringing the team back to the front of Formula 1. This extension gives us important continuity and reinforces our confidence in the direction we are taking together. With him and Oscar, we know we can count not only on one of the strongest partnerships but also on one of the most united and close-knit teams in Formula 1.”

    Norris’s McLaren record

    Norris joined McLaren’s junior programme in 2017 before being promoted to a race seat in 2019. He has raced exclusively for the papaya team since then, recording 13 Grand Prix victories, 18 pole positions and 48 podium finishes.

    McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who has played an integral role in guiding Norris through the team’s ranks, said: “His journey with the team is a fantastic example of our commitment to identifying, developing and supporting world-class talent, and his achievements speak for themselves.

    “Together with Andrea, Oscar and the wider team, Lando has helped drive McLaren into a new papaya era of success, helping us go from the back of the grid, to double consecutive constructors’ titles in 2024 and 2025 and our first drivers’ championship in 17 years.

    “We are extremely excited about what lies ahead and remain fully focused on continuing to compete for wins and championships.”