McLaren insist they have the financial firepower to pay Lando Norris the type of big-money deal to keep him long-term.
Norris has a contract with his current Formula 1 team for the next two seasons, but there are often rumors connecting him to Red Bull, who are known admirers of his talent.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has already stated that keeping Norris and Oscar Piastri is a top priority. However, he has now made a bold statement about the financial strength of the team.
When asked by Sky Sports if Norris would be worth “a hundred million” as a footballer, Brown replied, “I’m not familiar enough with soccer to understand the economics!”
“He is a highly valuable racing driver and a fantastic asset to the team.”
We have no interest in trading him for any number.
Norris received a salary of $5m and an extra $10m in bonuses for the 2023 F1 season from McLaren, according to a report by Forbes.
This puts him as the sixth-highest earner among F1 drivers, with Max Verstappen leading the pack with $70m for his exceptional performance.
If Norris wants to stay with McLaren and avoid offers from other teams, it’s likely that he will need a pay raise when renewing his contract beyond 2026.
However, Brown assures that McLaren has the necessary resources to keep him, stating, “The resources we have now are exactly where we need to be.”
Being a successful racing team is truly remarkable. We consistently perform at our maximum potential.
Our resources will never hinder us from accomplishing our goals, including nurturing talented drivers.
During the previous season, McLaren’s mid-season upgrade enabled them to become the main contenders against Red Bull. They proved to be a formidable force.
In an extraordinary display of skill, rookie Piastri emerged victorious in the Qatar sprint race, further highlighting his exceptional performance throughout the year.
Norris achieved a total of seven podium finishes, which included an impressive streak of five consecutive top-three finishes in six consecutive grands prix.
When it comes to McLaren’s future, Brown emphasized the importance of having the world’s two greatest grand prix drivers as the foundation.
He firmly believes that they currently possess the finest driver line-up in Formula 1.
While there is still some time left for both drivers, Norris is highly sought after and McLaren aims to secure his services as soon as possible.
He seems to be thoroughly relishing his experience at McLaren.
Our ultimate aspiration is to triumph in races and secure a world championship as a team, and I firmly believe that Lando is fully committed to accomplishing that goal alongside us.
In order to generate anticipation for this year, McLaren has already unveiled their 2024 livery, igniting curiosity about the potential achievements of Norris and Piastri.
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