Lando Norris insists he had opportunities to leave McLaren before signing a contract extension with the F1 team.
The reigning world champion, who has been with McLaren for a decade since joining their junior programme, at the weekend signed a new deal with the Woking-based outfit until 2030.
The 26-year-old Briton won his first world championship last year, pipping Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri to the ******* le, and believes he was rewarded for his loyalty to the team in more difficult years.
That being said, Norris says there were other options on the table.
"There was opportunity of course," Norris told Sky Sports F1. But opportunity that is positive. There's opportunities to gamble at times. I'm a driver that personally I would take one or two tougher years over instant success - as I did a few years ago with McLaren.
#years
The reigning world champion, who has been with McLaren for a decade since joining their junior programme, at the weekend signed a new deal with the Woking-based outfit until 2030.
The 26-year-old Briton won his first world championship last year, pipping Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri to the ******* le, and believes he was rewarded for his loyalty to the team in more difficult years.
That being said, Norris says there were other options on the table.
"There was opportunity of course," Norris told Sky Sports F1. But opportunity that is positive. There's opportunities to gamble at times. I'm a driver that personally I would take one or two tougher years over instant success - as I did a few years ago with McLaren.
#years
2 months ago
