McLaren have just announced Lando Norris’s new contract but failed to specify the length of his new deal.
This is rather unusual in Formula 1, with the majority of driver’s contract lengths known to the public.
In a recent episode of The Race Podcast, journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm proposed two potential explanations as to why McLaren has opted to maintain confidentiality regarding those specific details at present.
McLaren has made extensive efforts to avoid being involved in the conversation during a year when driver transfers are expected to be a major point of discussion.
“They had already secured two drivers for the upcoming season of 2024.” In the middle of his inaugural Formula 1 season, Oscar Piastri’s exceptional performance led to him securing a fresh agreement with the team.
The Australian will be driving for the Woking-based team until the end of 2026 and Lando Norris was set to join him until the end of 2025.
However, McLaren were delighted to announce that Norris had signed a new contract last week but failed to disclose the length of the deal.
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The team’s official statement calls it an ‘extended multi-year’ deal which means he’s signed up to drive for the team beyond his old contract.
However, any other details about the new agreement are shrouded in mystery.
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Norris’s new McLaren contract length not disclosed
Speaking about the two reasons why McLaren decided not to share all the details about Norris’s new deal, Mitchell-Malm said: “There will be a reason why they told us when [Lando] Norris’s last deal ran to and they told us when [Oscar] Piastri’s deal runs to but they won’t tell us when this deal runs to.
“And I think there are two reasons why that might be. One, it’s either that Norris hasn’t signed up for as long as he did before.
“So, he hasn’t done another four-year deal and McLaren doesn’t want there to be too much focus on why he’s only done a three-year deal when last time it was four years.
“Or, it will be something to do with break clauses because as I say, the last time Norris did a long-term McLaren extension, we were told he didn’t have a break clause.
“And I understand that I get that he didn’t feel that he needed one in that moment but the circumstances are different now, he’s a bit older, [and] sooner or later there will be other teams and there have been teams sniffing around for him.
“So, I would be surprised if this deal has been done without an option somewhere, like performance-related or something.”
While the length of Norris’s new contract is important, for McLaren they have to make sure they hit their targets and make it impossible for Norris to want to consider moving elsewhere.
The trouble is, he’s still only 24 and while he’s happy to extend his current deal now, eventually he may want a new challenge.
If that happens, he’s going to be one of the most sought-after drivers on the grid.
He should have his choice of virtually any team on the grid if he continues on the same trajectory.
However, the only saving grace for McLaren is that they might have a driver with even greater potential alongside him.
The team’s official statement calls it an ‘extended multi-year’ deal which means he’s signed up to drive for the team beyond his old contract.
However, any other details about the new agreement are shrouded in mystery.
Norris’s new McLaren contract length not disclosed
Speaking about the two reasons why McLaren decided not to share all the details about Norris’s new deal, Mitchell-Malm said: “There will be a reason why they told us when [Lando] Norris’s last deal ran to and they told us when [Oscar] Piastri’s deal runs to but they won’t tell us when this deal runs to.
“And I think there are two reasons why that might be. One, it’s either that Norris hasn’t signed up for as long as he did before.
“So, he hasn’t done another four-year deal and McLaren doesn’t want there to be too much focus on why he’s only done a three-year deal when last time it was four years.
“Or, it will be something to do with break clauses because as I say, the last time Norris did a long-term McLaren extension, we were told he didn’t have a break clause.
“And I understand that I get that he didn’t feel that he needed one in that moment but the circumstances are different now, he’s a bit older, [and] sooner or later there will be other teams and there have been teams sniffing around for him.
“So, I would be surprised if this deal has been done without an option somewhere, like performance-related or something.”
While the length of Norris’s new contract is important, for McLaren they have to make sure they hit their targets and make it impossible for Norris to want to consider moving elsewhere.
He is faced with a dilemma: at the age of 24, he is content with prolonging his existing contract, but in the future, he may desire a fresh and stimulating opportunity. If that occurs, he will become highly desirable among the drivers in the racing competition.
If he keeps performing at the same level, he will have the opportunity to join almost any team in the competition.
Nevertheless, McLaren’s sole consolation is the possibility that they may have a driver who possesses even more potential beside their current driver.