Lando Norris’s new contract has ‘weakened’ 29-year-old’s position in Formula 1

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Lando Norris signing a new contract at McLaren came as a bit of a surprise last week and it may have weakened Carlos Sainz’s negotiating position at Ferrari.

Ferrari confirmed that Charles Leclerc had signed a new deal just days before Lando Norris committed his future to McLaren.

Speaking on The Race Podcast, journalist Edd Straw explained how that might have been bad news for the Spanish driver.

More than half of the drivers on the grid currently don’t have a guaranteed seat for the 2025 season.

McLaren and Mercedes no longer need to worry about what’s going on in the market with both of their pairs safely secured for the foreseeable future.

Ferrari have got ahead of the curve by tying Leclerc down to a long-term deal but Carlos Sainz is still in limbo.

He’s been linked with several teams including Audi who enter Formula 1 in 2026.

However, Norris’s new deal at McLaren has left Sainz in a weaker negotiating position with Ferrari.

One of the teams that could have potentially made a move for the 29-year-old is now out of the question.

Sainz wants his future secured sooner rather than later, but given he has fewer potential teams to join, Ferrari are now in a position to take their time.

New Norris deal leaves Sainz in weaker position in Ferrari talks

Speaking about Norris extending his contract, Straw said: “When you’re talking about something for 2026, it’s all part of the equation isn’t it because the chessboard’s always moving in the driver market so it’s all about how that might have a knock-on effect.

“For example, one thing I think it does have an impact on, you mention Carlos Sainz, it also I think fractionally weakens his position if he wants to take a short-term deal at Ferrari, maybe a one-plus-one [one year followed by a one-year option] or something.

“Because he could think, well there might be a McLaren opportunity in 2026 but now unless something happens unexpectedly, that’s less likely now.

“So, it slightly shifts that equation. It’s not like it’s the predominant number in that equation or anything, but it’s just part of it.

“It’s sort of part of the whole landscape and that’s what this game is.”

Sainz will be able to quickly strengthen his position in Ferrari talks by beating the likes of Norris on the track.

If he can prove that he’s the right man to partner Leclerc going forward then the Italian outfit won’t want to disrupt the balance of the team.

However, the likes of Alex Albon will be looking for an opportunity to secure a stronger seat, especially with the rule changes coming up in two years.

It means Sainz may not be able to demand too much knowing there are strong alternatives out there who might be willing to settle for less.