Norris has “no regrets” new McLaren deal rules him out of 2025 Mercedes seat · RaceFans

Lando Norris isn’t concerned he may have missed an opportunity to join Mercedes by extending his contract to drive for McLaren earlier this year.

McLaren announced in January that Norris had signed a new contract keeping him at the team beyond 2025. Six days later Mercedes made the surprise announcement Lewis Hamilton will leave them at the end of this year, opening up a coveted seat at the team.

However Norris insisted he is happy to remain at McLaren, where he made his F1 debut in 2019.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “I could have waited, I had the choice. I knew opportunities were potentially coming my way.

“I knew what opportunities I had at the time last year and coming into this year and what could have happened or what is happening over the next couple of years anyway. So no regrets from any side.

“I’m confident in my team, I’m confident in what we’ve been able to achieve and what we can achieve going into the future and I’m very happy with where I am.”

He goes into his sixth season of F1 this year still seeking his first grand prix victory, having reached the podium 13 times.

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“Of course, I could be happier if we’re achieving more of the goals that I think we all want to achieve,” he continued. “But the main point is I’m enjoying my time with the guys that I’m with and for me that’s always a big part of my life. I want to enjoy where I am, and I am.

“I think that’s an important part of trying to improve as a team at the same time, knowing everyone and pushing everyone, and I think everyone’s capable of getting to the goal of being the top team in Formula 1. So I’m very happy.”

However Norris doesn’t believe McLaren have caught up to the two teams that were quickest at the end of last year.

“We had a decent car at the end of last season and I think we’ve definitely taken some steps in the right direction,” he said. “But I think still a very long way behind Red Bull and a long way behind Ferrari.

“So there’s plenty of work for us to still try and achieve. But also plenty of things that we’ve learned over the last few days for us to implement before next week.”