LANDO NORRIS believes McLaren will “100 per cent” be title contenders next season and predicts plenty more excitement for the rest of 2024.

The 24-year-old claimed his maiden Formula One victory at the Miami Grand Prix last weekend, capitalising on a safety-car period before pulling away from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to pick up his first win in his 110th grand prix.

It was McLaren’s first win in almost three years and was a further marker of the improvement at the British team.

Norris sits fourth in the drivers’ standings, 53 points adrift of three-time world champion Max Verstappen — while third-placed McLaren trail the dominant Red Bull by 115 points in the constructors’ battle.

When asked if they can contend for the title next season, Norris told Sky Sports F1: “100 per cent. I am saying that still with my feet on the ground. I want to believe that we have two great drivers. We have an amazing team behind us and we are closer than ever.

“As much as I said at the beginning of this year we can win races, I should have the confidence to say next year we can go for the next step.”