McLaren CEO Zak Brown has downplayed suggestions that 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari played a factor in 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris’ latest F1 contract exꦚtension at the start of this year.

Norris signed a new multi-year McLaren deal, with the t🔥eam announcing it just one week before Hamilton’s bombshell switch to Ferrari was revealed.

Many have suggested that Norris’ contract extension was wrapped up sooner to ensure the British driver was taken ofཧf the driver market, ensuring Mercedes could not s🌳ign him as a possible Hamilton replacement.

It means McLaren have Norris and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Oscar Piastri contracted until the end of 2026, giving the 🌱Woking outfit one of the most exciting line ups on the♓ grid.

Speaking after the of𓂃ficial launch of McLaren’s 2024 F1 chaℱllenger, Brown told Sky Sports News that Hamilton’s Ferrari move played no role in Norris’ new deal.

“We were awarꦡe that there was potentially some movement, but that didn’t really have anything to do with Lando,” Brown said. “We’d signed him up. Previously, we’re just waiting for him to get back to actually make the announcement.

“But we knew that Lando and of course Os𒉰car, but we had Oscar signed up for a while, both are hot propertie💯s.

“So it was less abou🔜t kn༒owing specifically what was going on with Lewis and Ferrari and Mercedes as much as knowing Lando is top of everybody’s list and ours included.”

After a poor start, McLa🌼ren enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in the second half of 2023, ultimately finishing fourth in the constructors’ championship.

Particularly at high-s🐟peed circuits such as Silverstone, Suzuka and Losail, McLaren could challe🌜nge Red Bull on outright pace.

Brown believes Norris’ confidence in McLaren, and the progress they’ve shown, is the reason he wante♑d to comꦡmit his future.

“We had a really strong second half of the year, and I think Lando has got the same confidence we do in the team and belief in ourselves. And so it was great to get 𓆏him signed up,” 𝓀he added.

“And I think, w𝔍hat I’ve really focused on 🌄is bringing stability to the team.

“So with our new hires, ღor your existing team, Andrea [Stella], technology infrastructure, we’re just trying to keep our head down, be focused, and there’s some drama going on in the sport at t🍬he moment we don’t want to be part of.”