McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl has revealed that there are no clauses written into Lando Norris' new contract which might give the British driver a way to leave the Woking-based team. Norris has put pen to paper to stay with McLaren until the end of 2025, a surprisingly long contract that will keep him in place for the next four consecutive seasons, having already spent three years racing for the team. While a get-out clause is usually written into an F1 contract to allow a driver to free themselves should a team fail to meet certain performance standards, or vice versa, Seidl says there are no such caveats in Norris' new deal. "The beauty of this new agreement that we have in place is that there's no get-outs, on both sides, which is [an] important message that we wanted to give to the team as well," Seidl told select members of the media, including RacingNews365.com . "That shows that we're in this together and that there's a strong belief from both sides, from our side in the talent Lando is but, at the same time, from Lando's side in believing that we can actually get there in the next few years."
Norris hints at a less water-tight contract
While Seidl was firm in his stance that there are absolutely no ways out for Norris, the 22-year-old hinted that there are still options written into his contract to help him should he find himself unhappy with the team's performances. "In every contract, there's various things but, in terms of my one for the next four years, there's a heavy commitment from my side to just commit to doing what I want to do, and I'm achieving stuff with the team," he explained. "In doing so, and especially coming into this year, the thing a lot of people would think is to just stay with my previous contract, which would have ended next year or whenever, [especially] when we're so early in this new era of cars and the new regulations and so on. "I knew that was a chance and there was an opportunity for other teams to make big steps forward, and maybe we go backward. But I don't think that's something I need to be worried about. "I'm confident in the team that we can have a good season this year and, whatever happens this year, [it] doesn't mean we might be struggling for the next five to 10 years. "I have belief that, even if we have a tougher year this year - which I don't think we will, I'm confident we won't - the next two to three years, when we get the wind tunnel up and running, then we can make that progress we need. "So, of course, there's things here and there like there is in every single person's contract. But, in terms of my commitment, it is very high. So I'm confident I'll be here for the next four years."
Norris places faith in strong support group
Norris revealed he has managed to gather a strong core group of people as his support network, with whom he was able to put his trust in regarding the best decision for his future. As he weighed up whether to commit to McLaren or leave for other pastures , Norris explained he was able to go through everything in detail with his camp to feel confident about making the right decisions for himself. "I have a whole team that goes through everything with me, that obviously weighs up all these options and so on," he said. "It's not solely just me. I have my manager Mark Berryman, a guy who I've been with for almost 10 years now, since karting. He's the main guy, he does all the talking and so on! "I've got my dad and a lot more people in the background to do all the contract stuff as well. "I have my team of people I have faith and confidence in, and my family and so on. All people who can give me different opinions on what they think is best, and what they think is bad and good. "I had a look at all the best options for me, and what I think is one [where] I can be most successful in, and where I think I can achieve the best. "But also what I believe is the best for me as a driver, the best for me as a person and, in the longer term, what is the best thing for me?"
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