Daily News 19

Tag: Lando Norris

  • 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

  • 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.”

  • 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.”

  • Lando Norris Extends McLaren Contract Through 2030

    Lando Norris Extends McLaren Contract Through 2030

    Lando Norris has committed his long-term future to McLaren after signing a new contract that will keep him with the British Formula 1 team until at least the end of 2030. The agreement also includes a multi-year option that could extend his stay beyond that point.

    Norris joined McLaren in 2017 as a test and development driver before being promoted to a race seat for the 2019 season. The 26-year-old has since recorded 13 Grand Prix victories, 18 pole positions and 48 podium finishes, while also securing his maiden World Championship in 2025.

    He has now competed in 163 Grands Prix for McLaren, more than any other driver in the team’s history. His previous contract was reportedly due to expire at the end of 2027, but McLaren has moved to secure his services for the foreseeable future.

    Lando Norris to receive title-winning McLaren car

    As part of the announcement, Norris will also be given the MCL39, the car he raced during his championship-winning 2025 season.

    “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.”

    McLaren CEO Zak Brown welcomed the agreement and highlighted Norris’ role in the team’s rise to the front of Formula 1.

    “I’m incredibly pleased to be signing a new contract with Lando, extending his commitment with McLaren until at least 2030. 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 [Stella], Oscar [Piastri] 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.”

    McLaren team principal Andrea Stella also praised Norris’ contribution since he joined the team’s junior programme.

    “Lando has been an integral part of McLaren’s journey and success over the last nine years, and we are delighted to continue our partnership with him through to at least 2030.
    “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.“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.”

    When the new agreement ends, Norris will be 31 and will have spent 12 years with McLaren, matching Lewis Hamilton’s time with Mercedes.

    The contract will expire at the same time as the deal of Norris’ rival and friend Max Verstappen. The Dutchman recently committed to Red Bull, whom he joined in 2016, through to the end of 2030.

    Norris’ McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri is contracted to the team until the end of 2028 after signing a new agreement ahead of the 2025 campaign. McLaren therefore has continuity across its driver line-up for at least the next two Formula 1 seasons.

    Source: www.formula1.com

  • Zak Brown Explains Why He Chose the Washington, D.C., IndyCar Race Over the Dutch GP

    Zak Brown Explains Why He Chose the Washington, D.C., IndyCar Race Over the Dutch GP

    McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown chose to attend IndyCar’s first Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., rather than the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, despite McLaren ultimately securing pole position and victory with Lando Norris.

    Speaking to Will Buxton in an interview with SPEED, Brown explained that his decision was based on where he could have the greatest commercial impact across McLaren’s racing operations.

    “I’d like to be at both, but I’ve not been able to figure that out,” said Brown. “So, I use my double-triple top-secret laptop to dial into Holland. My role is to go where I can have the most impact on our racing teams, where’s the most commercial activity, the biggest growth for the different racing series we’re in and the teams.

    “And this race is epic. I’ve not seen anything like it, so I needed to be here, and fortunately, when you have a great group of people, reality is — don’t tell anyone — but our three racing teams can survive just fine when I don’t make a race weekend.

    “Witnessed the pole Lando has in Holland (interview took place before race day), so it’s a little bit more difficult for me to take credit for that. I’ve told my three guys (in IndyCar), someone needs to have a pole here so I can take credit for it here.”

    The commercial impact of IndyCar’s Washington race

    The IndyCar event attracted several prominent business leaders, as well as the president of the United States. FOX later reported that the Freedom 250 Grand Prix was IndyCar’s most-watched non-Indy 500 race since 1995, averaging more than 3.2 million viewers.

    “At the end of the day, that’s why I’m here,” said Brown. “We’ve got great partners in Holland, but this is new, so we have a lot of first-time partners here, a lot of prospects here, the attention that this has brought to IndyCar, the NTT IndyCar Series is awesome, and so, I had to be here. It’s kind of a no-brainer.”

    While Norris went on to win the Dutch Grand Prix from pole position, Arrow McLaren narrowly missed out on victory in Washington. Christian Lundgaard finished second behind race winner Kyle Kirkwood, while McLaren teammates Nolan Siegel and Pato O’Ward placed sixth and 16th, respectively.

    Brown later praised the Washington event and described it as a tremendous success.

    Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren

    Photo by: Penske Entertainment

  • The Numbers Behind Lando Norris’ “pretty insane” Claim About McLaren’s F1 Development

    The Numbers Behind Lando Norris’ “pretty insane” Claim About McLaren’s F1 Development

    Lando Norris has reignited his Formula 1 championship hopes by winning the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, a year after his title ambitions appeared to go up in smoke at the same circuit.

    Norris’ victory, following his earlier win in Budapest, was his second consecutive triumph as reigning world champion. More significantly, it gave him valuable momentum after last year’s DNF at Zandvoort.

    His result reduced his championship deficit to 83 points. By comparison, Max Verstappen was 104 points behind then-leader Oscar Piastri after last year’s Dutch Grand Prix. Verstappen ultimately missed out on the title by just two points, explaining why Norris immediately told his team over the radio:

    “The fight is still on.”

    McLaren development delivers major gains

    Norris’ recent victories highlight the progress McLaren has made during the season. The Woking-based team has led Formula 1’s development race in recent years, and its performance under the latest regulations suggests that trend is continuing.

    “I think we’ve easily done the best job when you look at everything from where we were last year,” Norris said after claiming his 13th F1 victory at Zandvoort.

    “We were always going to start behind this season because of how much we focused on last year. It was inevitable that we were not going to start on the pace this season.

    “But for us to catch up, you know, we’ve outdeveloped them. You’re saying on a track like this, almost a second of development from us as McLaren versus our competitors. So that’s pretty insane, and I think that’s the reason why we’ve also come on pretty strong.”

    Lando Norris, McLaren
    Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

    Race-pace data calculated by data partner Paceteq supports Norris’ assessment. At the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, McLaren was an average of 1.34 seconds per lap slower than the Mercedes works team.

    McLaren’s performance then fluctuated. Neither McLaren driver was able to start in China, while Oscar Piastri was unexpectedly quick in Japan. The team’s first major upgrade package arrived in Miami, after which its deficit exceeded one second per lap only in Canada, at 1.10 seconds, and Monaco, at 1.67 seconds.

    Norris attributed those losses to McLaren being:

    “shockingly bad”

    in slow-speed corners.

    Norris credits his own progress for Zandvoort win

    After Norris’ victory, Mercedes suggested that McLaren had become Formula 1’s team to beat. Kimi Antonelli said Mercedes no longer had the fastest car, while team principal Toto Wolff indicated that the budget cap left limited scope for further upgrades.

    Norris rejected the suggestion that McLaren was now clearly the fastest team:

    “Well, they’re not going to say themselves, are they?” the reigning world champion smiled.

    “So, yeah, they’re not going to say themselves. They’re [still] the team to beat even if they just got beaten today, so I don’t think it’s true.”

    Lando Norris, McLaren
    Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

    The McLaren driver also said his own performance played an important role in the Zandvoort result, particularly his decisive overtakes on Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.

    “I think if I didn’t get Kimi when I overtook him, I don’t think I would have won the race today. You know, it’s hard to say, but I also know how good of a job I’m doing behind the wheel.

    “And of course I’m never one to overtalk about myself, normally always the complete opposite. But for once I would give myself a little bit of credit that I feel like I’m doing a better job than everyone, and I think that can also make a difference.”

    The combination of Norris’ current form and McLaren’s development trajectory has kept his hopes of defending the world title alive, although he accepts that a significant gap remains.

    “I’m still [more than] 80 points behind, so I wouldn’t say it’s that close. But I do think it’s close,” he insisted.

    “It’s relatively close for a new regulation, that’s for sure. It’s definitely closer than what previous years have been with new regulations.”

  • Mercedes ‘have got a problem’ if McLaren’s form continues, says Alex Brundle

    Mercedes ‘have got a problem’ if McLaren’s form continues, says Alex Brundle

    McLaren’s Monza Form Could Give Mercedes “a problem on their hands”, Warns Alex Brundle

    Alex Brundle has warned that Mercedes could face a major threat if McLaren carries its race-winning Dutch Grand Prix pace into Monza and the remaining races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

    Lando Norris claimed his second consecutive victory of the season at Zandvoort. Benefiting from McLaren’s latest car upgrades, the 2025 champion navigated a chaotic race to beat Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

    Norris extended his championship lead by finishing 11.5 seconds ahead of Antonelli, but Brundle believes the characteristics of the upcoming circuits will determine whether McLaren’s performance improvement represents a sustained challenge to Mercedes.

    “You’ve got to say, though, we’re coming off a pair of circuits that are less energetically starved in the way that we saw Mercedes dominate at Silverstone and be really strong at Spa,” Brundle told F1 TV.

    “There are going to be those circuits coming, and that effect hasn’t gone away. It’s going to be interesting to see how this McLaren form, for example, rolls on into Monza. If it’s the same there, then I think Mercedes have got a problem on their hands.”

    Palmer backs Mercedes to respond with Baku upgrade

    Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer does not believe Mercedes will be overly concerned by Norris’s late title challenge, with the team reportedly expecting a significant upgrade package for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

    “Inevitably, the field was going to close up from Melbourne, and it has done with Ferrari, with McLaren, with Red Bull as well bringing upgrades,” Palmer explained.

    “Mercedes hit back, didn’t they, in Canada where they moved again further away from the field. That was their only real big hit of upgrades. So, I’m hearing Baku is going to be their big chance.

    “Obviously, Monza is such an outlier of a circuit that might suit them. Then we go to Madrid, which is a complete unknown for everybody. So, Baku is the one that they’ve targeted.

    “I don’t think they’re going to be losing sleep over Lando right now. He seems like he’s too far away. And when you look at Kimi still putting in the performances very consistently, I would say it’s such a long shot for Norris.

    “But for me, I think you could argue he’s the driver of the season. He’s put in so many top, top drives and now he has the car that he didn’t have earlier on, and he’s just smashing out the wins.”

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • Lando Norris Announces New Prime Video Docuseries With “More Access Than Ever Before”

    Lando Norris Announces New Prime Video Docuseries With “More Access Than Ever Before”

    Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris will star in a new three-part documentary series for Prime Video, scheduled to premiere in 2027.

    The series, currently titled Lando, is being produced by Box to Box Films, the London-based company behind Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive.

    Lando documentary to focus on Norris away from F1

    Although the documentary will follow Norris during his 2026 campaign as he defends his maiden drivers’ championship, its central focus will be his life away from the circuit. The official synopsis promises “unprecedented access to a more personal side of his life”.

    The synopsis continued: “From the moment Lando first gripped a karting wheel in Bristol, racing represented pure, exhilarating joy. Inspired by his idols, including the legendary Valentino Rossi, he quickly climbed the ranks — driven not just by ambition but by a relentless pursuit of fun and authenticity, and a fierce determination to win.

    “But what does life really look like when you’re at the pinnacle of your sport at just 26 years old? With unprecedented access to his life over the course of the summer – leading up to his 27th birthday – this docuseries gives an authentic insight into Lando’s world: from the antics of a holiday with his friends, to more personal and quieter moments with his family; to the highs of winning his first GP of the season; from the profile that comes with being one of the biggest names in global sport to the moments of quiet reflection.”

    Ben Phethean is directing the docuseries, with Clare Little serving as producer. Tom Keeling, Warren Smith and Jon Smith are executive producers for Box to Box Films.

    “I’m really excited to be doing this with Prime Video,” the 26-year-old said. “We’ve been filming for a while already and I’ve had a lot of fun with it.”

    Norris is already familiar with having his life documented. Alongside his appearances on Drive to Survive, the McLaren driver has offered behind-the-scenes footage through his own YouTube vlog series, LandoLOG.

    However, Norris said the Prime Video documentary would offer a deeper view of his everyday life away from Formula 1.

    “I already share a lot of what I get up to, but this is going to give people more access than ever before to my life away from racing,” Norris added. “I’ve been really involved in the whole thing, so hopefully people will enjoy seeing more of what goes on behind the scenes. I’m looking forward to people seeing it next year!”