Norris assesses strength of McLaren title defence ahead of new season

Lando Norris does not believe McLaren will be starting the 2026 Formula 1 season “on the back foot”, even if it is not the outright quickest team to begin with.

McLaren heads into the upcoming F1 regulation reset off the back off two hugely successful campaigns, having followed up a first constructors’ title in 26 years in 2024 with a double world championship triumph last season.

During pre-season testing in Bahrain, McLaren suggested it expected to be the third-quickest team behind Mercedes and Ferrari at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

But Norris, who beat Max Verstappen and team-mate Oscar Piastri to the 2025 crown, thinks McLaren’s development history puts it in a strong position regardless of where it starts this year.

"I don't think we're starting on the back foot. Even if you're second, third or fourth quickest, I don't think that's on the back foot. I think that's still a very good position to start in,” Norris told media in Melbourne.

"In previous years where it's been harder to improve over the course of a season, we've certainly proved that you could. And I continue to believe that, you know, it's a long, very long season.

"One of the big [lessons] from last year is to not get too frustrated with one or two bad races, a bad beginning of a year. It can always come back your way as long as you keep working hard.

"I have very good faith in the team that they can, if we don't start in the best way possible, that we will be able to continue to work as efficiently as possible to bring upgrades, bring big things later on through the season to help turn things around if that is the case.

"But even if we start in a good form, I still expect us to continue that and improve a lot through the middle of the course of the season. It's certainly not led by our results this weekend or the first races of the year.

"It’s more understanding it’s a long season and we have plenty of time to improve if we need to.”

Speaking in Thursday’s FIA press conference, home hero Piastri admitted McLaren is not likely to boast the same level of competitiveness as 12 months ago.

"It would be very optimistic to say we’re going to have the same form as we did here 12 months ago,” the Australian said.

"I think we’re somewhere towards the front, but from testing it kind of feels like Mercedes and Ferrari have got a little bit on us and Red Bull, I would say.

"To achieve the same kind of performance [as last year], we’re going to have to find a bit more.”