– That the McLaren MCL39 initially did not suit Lando Norris very well could be clearly observed in the 2025 Formula 1 season. The Englishman seemed to have some problems with the car, especially at the beginning of the season, while teammate Oscar Piastri managed significantly better and was able to build up a good points buffer in the World Championship.
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However, in the second half of the season, the tide turned, Norris gained the upper hand and even won the World Championship in the end. And just as 2025 ended, 2026 seems to continue in the same way. Norris is clearly the stronger McLaren driver this year and has Piastri well under control. The world champion was able to collect 171 points, Piastri only 116.
The new generation of cars seems to suit Norris’ driving style – at least according to Mercedes driver George Russell. He names Norris alongside Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli as drivers who truly flourish with the new Formula 1 models.
But Norris himself does not want to see it that way: “Honestly, I wouldn’t say that my driving style fits this car,” he says. Instead, the McLaren driver believes that he has an advantage because he can better adapt his style to the conditions.
Norris: Adaptability is my strength
“I don’t think there is one style that works. I also don’t think I drive the same way as Kimi,” Norris says. “Of course, I never had him as a teammate, just like Lewis, so I have no idea.”
In this case, Russell has more expertise because he was both Hamilton’s and Antonelli’s teammate at Mercedes – or still is. As for the comparison with Norris, the latter does not know where it comes from: “He was never my teammate, so he probably can’t speak from personal experience.”
McLaren – Qualifying & Race
| Grand Prix | Norris (Q) | Piastri (Q) | Norris (R) | Piastri (R) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 5 | 7 | 5 | |
| Australia | 6. (+0.095) | 5. | 5. | Did not start |
| China | 6. (+0.058) | 5. | Did not start | Did not start |
| Japan | 5. (+0.277) | 3. | 5. (+9.8) | 2. |
| Miami | 4. | 7. (+0.317) | 2. | 3. (+23.8) |
| Canada | 3. | 4. (+0.203) | Retirement | 11. |
| Monaco | 8. (+0.141) | 7. | Retirement | 4. |
| Barcelona | 4. | 7. (+0.089) | 3. | 5. (+34.9) |
| Austria | 6. | 7. (+0.009) | 7. (+9.7) | 4. |
| Great Britain | 6. | 8. (+0.155) | 4. | 11. (+2.9) |
| Belgium | 3. | 7. (+0.215) | 7. (+5.0) | 5. |
| Hungary | 1. | 5. (+0.477) | 1. | Retirement |
| Netherlands | 1. | 4. (+0.142) | 1. | 6. (+32.3) |
| Italy | 9. (+0.290) | 3. | 4. | 5. (+0.2) |
Norris emphasizes that his driving style does not inherently fit the car. “It is rather my adaptability that allows me to drive the car I have. I see my strength in adapting to different driving styles.”
However, that was not so easy for him last year with the MCL39. “I think at the beginning of last year the car suited Oscar a bit more. My strength then was to adapt better in order to finally understand how to drive it in a better way. That’s why I had a better second half of the season.”
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The same applies exactly for this year: “You don’t drive this car even remotely like last year – I would say it doesn’t even feel the same by one percent. That’s why I think it’s wrong to say that my driving style simply fits. My ability to adapt better is what makes my strength.”
No idea how the McLaren compares to other cars
The world champion says that his statements are purely based on the comparison of the two McLaren cars because he has no comparison to other teams – after all, Norris has never driven for another team in his Formula 1 career. “I don’t know if this car differs that much from other cars,” he says.
“But I still believe it, because it has been like that since I have been at McLaren. Everyone who has driven a McLaren has emphasized how quirky and unique a McLaren drives. And that has really been said by several drivers who have also tested other cars at the same time.”
F1: Spanish Grand Prix (Madrid) 2026
“It’s hard to say if that’s purely a McLaren thing. I’m talking about what I know from the comparison between last year’s car – or rather this era – and this year’s car. You have to drive it completely differently. There were a lot of things at the beginning of the year that I had to adapt to in order to understand this year’s car.”
“But I don’t think I can judge whether this is purely a McLaren peculiarity or not,” says the Brit. “But I’m 90% sure it’s more about the mechanical balance. How this car is built compared to the last years is quite different.”
“The tires are also completely different – smaller and with a narrower temperature window, all these different things. And that’s why you have to adapt to this era compared to last year.”
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