Norris eyes 2026 title defense and hopes for more battles with Hamilton

Freshly crowned 2025 world champion Lando Norris is already looking ahead to the next season, expressing a strong desire to race more frequently against Lewis Hamilton at the front of the grid. The McLaren driver, who narrowly defeated Max Verstappen for the title, believes Hamilton is poised for a strong comeback with Ferrari and relishes the challenge of competing against the sport's greatest names.

Why it matters:

Norris's comments highlight the shifting dynamics at the top of Formula 1. After a dominant period by Red Bull and Max Verstappen, the 2025 season saw McLaren and Norris break through. His expressed desire to battle Hamilton more often signals a belief that the competitive order could further diversify in 2026, promising more intense and varied fights for the championship.

The details:

• Norris publicly stated he would "love to race a bit more with Lewis," acknowledging Hamilton's difficult debut season with Ferrari in 2025 but expressing confidence in the seven-time champion's ability to rebound.
• He framed racing against elite drivers like Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen as a "privilege," showing respect for the established benchmarks in the sport.
• The 2026 season brings a major technical regulation change, creating uncertainty and opportunity for all teams, including the reigning champions at McLaren.
• Norris is mentally preparing to defend his title, acknowledging that "people want to come to take my crown, and I want to try to retain it."

What's next:

The focus now shifts to the off-season and the intense development cycle for the 2026 cars. Norris plans to take a shortened holiday before returning to training, aware that work for the new season begins earlier than usual. All eyes will be on whether Ferrari can provide Hamilton with a competitive car to challenge Norris, Verstappen, and others, potentially fulfilling Norris's wish for epic multi-team battles at the front.