Lando Norris, the 2025 Formula 1 world champion, expressed increased confidence and a more relaxed mindset as he prepares to defend his title in the upcoming season. The McLaren driver, who clinched the championship by two points in Abu Dhabi after a tight battle with teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, highlighted his unchanged ambition to win again despite major regulatory changes. Norris shared these thoughts during McLaren's 2026 season launch and pre-season testing.
Lando Norris's journey to the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship was marked by intense competition, culminating in a narrow victory by two points over Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen at the Abu Dhabi finale. Despite early-season dominance with the MCL39 car, Norris faced setbacks, including a qualifying crash in Jeddah, a collision with Piastri in Montreal, and struggles in Baku. Autosport ranked him fourth among the season's top drivers, behind Verstappen, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc, yet he secured the title and helped McLaren win the Constructors' Championship with six races remaining.
In interviews at McLaren's 2026 season launch on February 4, 2026, at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England, Norris discussed adapting to his new status. "I just have more confidence because I've said in the past that I'm very much a guy who has to see something to believe it," he told Autosport. He admitted past mental health struggles, including depression as a rookie and race-day nerves, but noted the title has lifted a weight, allowing a more relaxed approach. Norris plans to invite more friends and family to races, moving away from last year's strict focus.
Looking to 2026, Norris emphasized his ambition remains intact. "My motivation to win is exactly the same," he said in The Guardian. He admires Verstappen's killer instinct but maintains his own fair style, stating, "It's quite clear that I have a different mentality and a different approach to what Max has. Good or bad, you decide." The season introduces sweeping changes, including new chassis, power units with a 50-50 internal combustion and electrical split, and a push-to-pass boost, potentially leading to more chaotic racing. Norris described battery management as a key challenge during last week's Barcelona shakedown with the MCL40 car.
Norris and Piastri, who share mutual respect despite their rivalry, expect another tough intra-team battle. Piastri reflected on his late-season fade from a 34-point lead, calling Norris a "deserving champion." With pre-season testing in Bahrain upcoming, Norris enters as the hunted, bolstered by proof of his capabilities. "Last year I proved to myself that I have what it takes," he told Formula1.com, signaling a confident defense ahead.
