Norris avoids excitement and says McLaren “doesn’t have the car to fight for the title” in F1 2026

Key takeaways

• Pessimism despite back-to-back wins: Despite securing two poles and two consecutive victories in Hungary and the Netherlands, Lando Norris insists he lacks the package required to mounted a sustained title defense.
• High-speed vs. low-speed trade-off: Norris highlighted that while the MCL40 excels in high-speed corners like Turns 7 and 8 at Zandvoort, Mercedes holds a massive advantage in low-speed sections.
• Deficit to Antonelli: Norris sits 4th in the standings with 159 points, trailing championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli (242 points) by 83 points with ten rounds remaining.

Lando Norris began the 2026 season quietly, but has been gaining ground in recent rounds. After taking two pole positions and two consecutive victories, the reigning world champion is once again being considered in the Formula 1 title conversation. However, while acknowledging the solid work done by McLaren, he does not believe he has the ideal car underneath him to challenge Mercedes.

In the Netherlands, this past Sunday (23), Norris returned to the top step of the podium after starting from pole position. Consequently, he reached 159 points and holds 4th place in the Drivers’ World Championship, 83 points behind leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Norris stepped out of the car very pleased with McLaren’s performance in several areas at Zandvoort, particularly through the high-speed sections. Even so, he recognized that Mercedes still retains a considerable edge in tighter, slower corners, making a consistent pursuit of his rivals difficult.

“I am confident because we clearly have a strong car in certain areas. It’s not like last year, when we were pretty good everywhere. We are very strong in high-speed corners, and that’s precisely where we have improved the car the most: in high-speed performance. No one matches us in that aspect, and that is a positive thing,” evaluated Norris, who still does not believe he has “the necessary car” to become champion.

“The advantage we had over Mercedes in Turns 7 and 8 was crazy, but the advantage they have over us in low-speed corners is also crazy. Therefore, I don’t have the confidence to say: ‘Yes, I can easily fight for the title over the remainder of the season’. I know I have just won two races in a row and taken two consecutive poles, but right now, I don’t have the car required to fight for the title. And I know that is a strong statement,” the driver of car #1 continued.

Conducting a self-assessment, Norris admitted that he has improved significantly since the start of last season, when he suffered inconsistent performances and saw Oscar Piastri build an early lead. Although he feels that this year’s car is harder to drive, he believes he is progressing well on track.

“I was driving at a very high level in the second half of last year. It is hard to say, but I think in some ways it is a trickier car to drive this year. And you can tell because the gaps between teammates tend to be larger this year than they were last year,” he analyzed.

“I believe I am able to better understand scenarios and the car. It is still simply horrible to drive, but I am doing a better job of understanding all of it, feeding that information back to the team, and finding solutions. So it isn’t just a matter of driving better on track. I am certainly eliminating my weaknesses behind the wheel—and I don’t have many—but I am also working better off the track. For me, the difference from yesterday to today is a perfect example: the work we did overnight transformed the race and gave me the opportunity to win,” he concluded.

Formula 1 returns from September 4–6 at Monza, home to the Italian Grand Prix and the 13th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all track action live. Follow all updates on our news page.

World Championship Standings (Top 5 after Dutch GP)

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. Why does Lando Norris believe McLaren cannot challenge Mercedes for the title?

Norris stated that while the McLaren MCL40 is superior in high-speed corners, Mercedes holds a substantial advantage in low-speed corners, preventing McLaren from dominating across all circuit types.

2. How many points is Lando Norris behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli?

Lando Norris trails Andrea Kimi Antonelli by 83 points (159 to 242) following the Dutch Grand Prix.