Jenson Button: Lando Norris will be 'formidable force' with 2026 F1 rules reset

Jenson Button believes reigning world champion Lando Norris will enter the 2026 season as a "formidable force," arguing that the massive technical reset is the perfect psychological antidote to a post-title comedown. The 2009 champion sees the new rules as a fresh challenge that will allow Norris to build on his championship confidence rather than face the difficulty of defending under stable regulations.

Why it matters:

Winning a first championship often brings a unique mental hurdle the following season, as drivers must motivate themselves to repeat the same feat under identical conditions. The sweeping 2026 regulation changes—covering aerodynamics, power units, and chassis—provide a natural reset. For a new champion like Norris, this means entering the new era with proven winning capability but without the potential stagnation of a static rulebook, potentially giving him a significant mental edge.

The details:

• Button, speaking on Sky Sports F1, highlighted the psychological challenge of defending a title under unchanged rules, calling the 2026 changes "the biggest one we've probably seen in modern F1."
• He contrasts this with Norris's situation, where the champion will start the new regulations from a position of strength, having secured his first title with seven wins and seven poles in 2024.
• "You arrive confident. You know you can do it - you've done it," Button said. "Everything after winning a world championship is fun. It's a bonus. And going into a season thinking that way, he's going to be a formidable force."
• Early testing impressions support a fresh start. While Max Verstappen expressed disappointment with the new cars, Norris was positive about his McLaren, calling it "a lot of fun" and acknowledging the cars have significant potential to be unlocked over the season.

What's next:

The true performance hierarchy under the 2026 rules will take shape throughout the season. Norris's initial positivity and the psychological boost highlighted by Button set an intriguing narrative for his title defense. The key will be whether McLaren can develop its "Woking machinery" quickly enough to keep Norris in a position to use that champion's confidence to fight at the front of a radically new grid.