Lando Norris has expressed caution about McLaren's prospects for the 2026 Formula 1 season, stating the team is currently a bit off the pace compared to rivals. During Bahrain pre-season testing, he explained that while some strengths from 2025 persist, significant improvements are needed under the new regulations. Norris also clarified his earlier positive comments on the new cars as an intentional contrast to others' criticisms.
Lando Norris, who secured his first drivers' championship in 2025 alongside McLaren's constructors' title, addressed the team's outlook for 2026 during the Bahrain pre-season testing press conference. The British driver noted that McLaren is unlikely to maintain the long-run pace advantage that defined their dominant 2025 season, especially with Formula 1's major regulatory overhaul resetting the field.
"From what we see at the minute, no," Norris said when asked if McLaren would retain that edge. He elaborated that last year's car allowed the team to start races conservatively and build speed, but the current setup requires pushing harder from the outset, leading to increased tyre degradation. "We're a little bit off," he added. "To match the race pace of some of the others, we have to push a bit more, and then we have more degradation."
Norris acknowledged that certain strengths from 2025, such as overall balance, will carry over, but emphasized the early stage of development. "The car worked very well last year. It was difficult to understand, but it worked well. And it's still just very, very early days for this car at the minute," he said. The team is focusing on areas like race pace and tyre cooling to close the gap.
Reflecting on his title defense, Norris expressed confidence from his 2025 success against teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull's Max Verstappen. "Certainly, after last year and winning the championship last year, that's given me the confidence," he stated. However, he stressed the new challenges ahead: "It's a new season with loads of new challenges."
In a separate remark during testing, Norris explained his initial comment that he was enjoying the new cars' challenges, which contrasted with criticisms from drivers like Verstappen. "I just wanted to say that and see what the reaction was of everyone. It's been quite an amusing week," he told media. He agreed with most concerns about the cars' drivability but chose positivity to avoid early complaints. "The cars are very different. Are they enjoyable and as good as to drive as last year? Absolutely not," Norris admitted, while affirming he still finds fun in the job.
