Lando Norris took the F1 world by storm upon his entry back in 2019. His rookie year was so good that McLaren signed a contract extension with Norris worth $2.4 Million just four months after they brought him in. However, the team landed him in hot water with the stewards even before his first race.
But it wasn’t the young Brit’s fault, as Ben Hunt revealed in Lando Norris’ biography. According to the book, Norris was hauled up before the stewards for an unsafe release in the pit-lane which led to a near-collision with Williams driver Robert Kubica.
The improperly-timed release had put Norris in the path of an oncoming Kubica. Such situations could potentially be very dangerous, and F1 deals with them with a firm hand.
Fortunately, after reviewing the events, race control ordered McLaren to pay a fine of $5,400 because the unsafe release was their fault, not the rookie driver’s.
Lando Norris just before his new McLaren contract! pic.twitter.com/hgBWm28fm9
— Sabyasachi Biswas (@Sabyasaachii) August 29, 2023
However, Norris has come a long way since then. From being a rookie in the team, the 23-year-old is now not only the most experienced but also its number one driver.
Lando Norris, a future F1 champion?
And now, Norris is also regarded as the next big thing in Formula 1. If McLaren can come up with a championship-worthy car, the young British driver could take on Max Verstappen in a wheel-to-wheel tussle for the title.
Norris outperformed multiple GP winner Daniel Ricciardo, beating him by 45 points in 2021. He also registered a podium finish in 2022 despite not having the quickest car.
A series of consistent performances over three seasons had put Norris on the radar of rival teams. This, along with Carlos Sainz’s unexpected exit to Ferrari in 2021, propelled McLaren to confirm Norris’ services, along with a $90 Million contract extension in 2022.
