Norris sends message to McLaren contract critics

Lando Norris has defended his contract commitment to McLaren, stating the team's recent form has proved those who criticised his decision wrong.

Norris' previous contract was set to end at the conclusion of the current campaign, leaving the 24-year-old linked to Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen.

However, the Briton opted to commit to McLaren on a new long-term deal.

Since penning the extension, Norris has become a grand prix winner with McLaren and currently sits second in the drivers' championship.

The Woking-based outfit is currently fighting for the constructors' championship and has been a consistent front-runner this year, leaving Norris content with his decision.

“There were a lot of people that didn't agree or thought it was a silly thing to do, so it’s nice to prove some of them wrong,” Norris told Sky F1.

“[It was] not me [who] proved them wrong, but the team proved them wrong. They have got what is needed.”

Norris pleased to see McLaren faith 'come true'

Norris detailed his perspective of the McLaren and what it offered him long-term differed greatly from those with an outside view. 

“I guess when you're within a team, and when you're within F1, you understand things a lot more than people do on the outside,” he said.

“One of those things was the structure we had, the morale we had within the team. This was stuff I already saw last year.

“We still had even more things that were added to the team this year.

“In a nice way, it’s good to see that what I thought was the correct thing has turned out to be the correct thing and that my faith and belief in the team has come true.”