McLaren’s Lando Norris has discussed his thoughts on the 2026 F1 cars following the new regulations kicking in, as well as how competitive he thinks the field will be for the upcoming season.
Last week every team other than Williams, took part in the Barcelona shakedown at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This was one of the first opportunities where teams were able to get a good understanding of the new regulations on track. The drivers get another chance to learn the cars during the offical testing sessions in Bahrain later this month.
Norris responds to Kimi Anotnelli’s claims that racing each other in the upcoming season will be like “high-speed chess”
The 2026 F1 cars introduce a new set of PU rules. The power units are now powered by a 50-50 split between petrol and electric. Previously, this split was 80% internal combustion engine (petrol) and 20% electronic power. Aditionally, the ERS will be able to recharge the cars battery with twice the energy every lap due to improved harvesting under breaking and lifting off at the end of straights.
Speaking to Sky, the 2025 World Champion stated that he agreed with the Mercedes driver given the different nature of the battery, and the power unit. The drivers will need to learn while racing, which might create exciting action on track. Lando Norris explained that the 2026 F1 season will bring more chaos while the drivers are getting to grips with the new cars.
“No, I definitely do, and I agree in many ways. Of course, the more you can try and slow it down, the better, but It is like that. There’s a different level processing that’s needed for the cars this year in order to understand how to use the battery, how to use the PU in all the best ways. Which will create, probably at time more chaos.
“More like, ‘oh, how’s he done that?’ And he used more battery and then he pays the price for that. There’s going to be more chaos in a way.
“So, hopefully, for everyone on the outside, they can try to learn these things and understand these things. Because they’ve certainly not made F1 more simple from that fact. But over the course of time, because everyone’s early on in this process, we’ll learn how to get the most out of it.”
Norris on the competitivness of the field for 2026
The 2025 F1 season gave everyone one of the most competitve World Championship fights, in terms of the Drivers’ Championship, in recent years.
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were fighting it out with Max Verstappen until the final race in Abu Dhabi. The Briton finished in third place and secured enough points to win his first Driver’s Championship. McLaren won the Constructors Championship with six races to spare.
Lando Norris was asked whether he thinks the 2026 F1 season will more competitive than last year and if there will be more drivers in contention for the Championship. Norris stated that he “expects everyone to be a challenger at some point.”
“It’s tough to say. We’ve just done a couple of days, literally. I still expect you to see the top four teams at the front. And then, potentially, a bit of a gap to some of the others.
“But we’ve seen over the last few years how close the Williams got many times, the Alpines. Haas at times were incredibly quick. So, I expect everyone to be a challenger at some point, especially in the first year of a regulation. Every weekend, you’re going to see new bits on every single car. And you’re going to see the development race within Formula 1, which is exciting.
“It’s cool for us, even as drivers. To get to see we’ve got a new front wing, a new rear wing, new floor, whatever it may be. So, that’s a cool thing for us. But that means this year, because you’re going to be learning so much, you’re just going to have to keep pushing the whole way.”
