Lando Norris cut a frustrated figure after a difficult Qualifying session at the 2026 F1 Australian GP, as the reigning World Champion could only manage 5th on the grid while Mercedes locked out the front row.
A Session to Forget
It was a tough afternoon for Norris and McLaren. After a challenging Friday, the Briton struggled to find the pace that had defined his 2025 championship-winning campaign. While George Russell dominated proceedings with a 1:18.518 to claim pole, Norris found himself unable to improve on his final Q3 lap, leaving him fifth on the grid for Sunday’s Feature Race.
The problems, Norris explained to the media, stem from the new 2026 power unit regulations, which have fundamentally changed how drivers must approach every lap.
“I think everyone knows what the issues are. It’s just the fact it’s a 50-50 split and it just doesn’t work. Straightline mode means you’ve got a lot of other issues at hand. You decelerate so much before corners, you have to lift everywhere to make sure the pack’s at the top. If the pack’s too high, you’re also screwed. It’s just difficult, but it’s what we have. It doesn’t feel good as a driver, but I’m sure George is smiling. You’ve just got to maximise what you’re going to give him.”
From the Best Cars to the Worst
Norris did not hold back when comparing the feel of the new machinery to what he experienced during his title-winning 2025 campaign.
“We’ve come from the best cars ever made in Formula 1 and the nicest to drive to probably the worst. It sucks, but you have to live with it.”
The new regulations also created a dangerous situation during the session, when debris from Antonelli’s car fell onto the track and Norris ran over it, causing damage to his front wing. The McLaren driver revealed that the nature of the new power units meant he simply did not see it coming.
“I’m looking at my steering wheel. It’s why I don’t see the debris, because I have to look at the speed I’m going to get at the end of the straight and know if I need a brake 30 metres earlier, 10 metres later. That’s also the problem. You have to look at the steering wheel every three seconds to see what’s going to happen, otherwise you’re going to end up off the track.”
A Step Forward, But Not Without Problems
Despite his frustrations with the power unit, Norris did acknowledge some positives from the new regulations. Speaking after the 2026 F1 Australian GP Qualifying session, Norris offered a more balanced view of the new cars.
“The cars are more agile and you’re sliding them around a bit more and it’s easier to lock up and sort of run wide, lose the rear. It feels more like a go-kart compared to last year when it felt like a bouncing bus, to be honest. I think there’s lots of mixed views on the new regulations as a whole, but I do think the car regulations for everyone is definitely a step forward compared to what we’ve had for the past eight years now.”
Reasons for Optimism
Speaking to Sky Sports, Norris urged patience with the new regulations, suggesting that Melbourne may represent the lowest point of the season for the power unit headaches.
“I think once you get your head around it, it becomes like a new normal. Is that pure racing? No, probably not, but you get used to it and it is race one. I know the FIA is going to be making some changes. I’ve been one of the drivers who didn’t want to judge everything too prematurely and I think Melbourne’s probably going to be the worst track for these engines.”
With the race still to come, Norris will be hoping to recover from fifth on the grid and put pressure on Russell and Antonelli at the front. But if his words after the 2026 F1 Australian GP Qualifying are anything to go by, the reigning World Champion faces a long road ahead before McLaren find their feet with the new regulations.
