The 2026 campaign has had a rough start for McLaren, with serious issues from the season’s opening. At the Australian Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri failed to start after crashing into the barriers on a reconnaissance lap to the grid. He had finished third in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship, narrowly missing out on the title. Meanwhile, defending F1 World Champion Lando Norris finished fifth in McLaren’s first race of the 2026 season. Even though McLaren showed solid pace in the sprint at the 2026 Chinese GP, both drivers were unable to start the main race due to technical issues, resulting in a double DNS. This was a frustrating situation, especially as McLaren need every point they can get right now.
With these early setbacks heading into the Japanese Grand Prix, Norris remains hopeful for the future, as he said after the race in Shanghai.
Lando Norris is confident McLaren can recover after a tough start to the 2026 F1 season
Lando Norris explained that every year in Formula 1 is different and nothing is ever guaranteed. He said he hopes the team can turn things around since it’s a very long season, and the break after the Japanese GP gives them more time to develop upgrades and get stuff on the car earlier.
Although the start of the year hasn’t been ideal, Norris said he has a lot of confidence in the team. He believes McLaren can still improve, fight for podiums at some point this season, and maybe even compete for wins later on.
Overall, he emphasised that he has faith in the team and wants to believe in a strong comeback.
“Absolutely. Every year is different so it’s never a guarantee. I have a lot of hope and a lot of faith in the team that we can turn things around from where we are.It’s still a very long season. Of course we’ve got after Japan a good little break coming up.
“That’s probably a good thing for us to try and figure out things. And it gives us a bit more time to maybe develop some things to see if we can get on the car earlier. As much as it’s not a start of the year we want. I think I have a lot of confidence in the team.
“We can still improve things and we can fight for podiums at some point this year. And we can fight for wins maybe later in the season. And I want to believe that. It’s a tough start but I have faith.”
Lando Norris on staying hopeful and working with McLaren to bounce back
For the 2026 F1 season, Lando Norris said he would have been happier if the car had performed better. He acknowledged that the team is familiar with being a bit behind and having to catch up, as seen in 2023 and 2024.
Nonetheless, sticking together and working hard is key to moving forward for the two-time defending Constructors’ World Champions.
“I just have to be hopeful. That’s it. Could I be happier, could I be enjoying it more, could we both be much happier if the car was performing better and we didn’t have some issues? Of course.
“But it’s not like we’re not this familiar with the situation of being a bit behind and having to catch up. It’s where we were a few years ago. That’s life. We are where we are. We both have to work together in getting the team back to the top”
