Norris backs McLaren to close gap after contract extension until 2030

Lando Norris has backed McLaren to close the performance gap and mount a genuine 2026 Formula 1 title challenge, speaking after confirming he has extended his contract with the Woking team until the end of 2030. The Briton currently sits fourth in the drivers’ standings with 159 points, 83 adrift of championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

McLaren endured a difficult start to the season but has since found significant form following a package of upgrades. Norris has capitalised with back-to-back victories at the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix, and his renewed confidence in the team’s direction is clear.

“The team is working better than they’ve ever worked before,” Norris said. “I think they’re working in a more efficient, harder way, even than the last couple of years. And that level was world championship-winning level. So, it’s not that I don’t think we can win it.”

He acknowledged, however, that specific areas of the car still require improvement before he feels fully assured of a title tilt. “I’m confident we have a lot of what we need in place. It’s just certain areas on the car that we need to improve. And I believe we can. It’s just a race against time, as always, within Formula 1.”

Norris was candid about his own high standards, admitting he wants greater certainty before declaring McLaren championship contenders. “I always want that little bit more, and I want to be confident that we can improve the car enough to easily say, ‘Yeah, we can fight for this world championship.’ We can easily fight as a team. We just need to improve some things with the car, and I’m still confident we can do that.”

In the constructors’ standings, McLaren sits third with 263 points, 162 behind leaders Mercedes, underlining the scale of the task ahead as the season enters its second half.