Norris on His 'Amusing' Stance Against Fellow F1 Drivers
Lando Norris admits his early praise for the challenging 2026 F1 cars was partly to provoke reaction, revealing he actually agrees with the dominant critical view shared by Max Verstappen and others. While he still finds driving fun, Norris concedes the new cars are a step backwards in enjoyment and require fixes, confirming that F1 and the FIA are working on improvements.
Lando Norris has clarified that his initial positive comments about the challenging 2026 Formula 1 cars were partly a social experiment to gauge reactions, admitting he largely agrees with the widespread driver criticism led by Max Verstappen. The McLaren driver maintains he still finds driving fun but acknowledges the new generation of cars is a significant step back in drivability and requires fixes.
Why it matters:
Norris's candid explanation highlights the near-universal concern among drivers regarding the new technical regulations, which prioritize energy management over pure driving feel. His attempt to buck the trend of immediate public criticism underscores the delicate balance drivers face between providing honest feedback and maintaining a positive public-facing role for the sport.
The details:
- During the first Bahrain test, Norris was a notable outlier, stating he was "enjoying the challenge" of the radically different 2026 cars.
- He has now revealed this was a deliberate move to see how people would react to a dissenting opinion, calling the ensuing week "quite amusing."
- Norris aligns himself with the majority of the grid, explicitly agreeing with "a lot" and "probably most" of World Champion Max Verstappen's critical comments about the cars.
- The core driver complaints center on the cars being less enjoyable and more difficult to drive than their predecessors, with specific challenges around start procedures and energy deployment affecting wheel-to-wheel racing.
- Despite the criticism, Norris emphasizes he still loves his job and has fun driving, but is clear that the current cars are "very different" and not "as good as to drive as last year."
What's next:
Norris confirms that the teams, the FIA, and Formula 1 itself are actively working to improve the car concept for the current season. His comments reflect a driver willing to offer constructive criticism while acknowledging the governing bodies' efforts to rectify the issues, setting the stage for potential in-season developments aimed at enhancing the racing product.