Norris predicts McLaren will build 'best car' in 2026 fightback

Lando Norris believes McLaren can build the best car on the Formula 1 grid later this season, despite a challenging start to his title defense that sees him 36 points adrift in the championship. The reigning world champion, who suffered a DNS in China, expressed confidence in his team's ability to recover from their current deficit, drawing parallels to their remarkable comeback to win the 2024 Constructors' title.

Why it matters:

McLaren's potential resurgence is a pivotal storyline for the 2026 season. After winning the last two Constructors' championships and Norris's 2025 Drivers' title, the team's current position behind Mercedes and Ferrari tests their champion pedigree. Their ability to close the performance gap will determine if they can mount a credible title defense or if a new hierarchy is firmly establishing itself in F1's new era.

The details:

• Confidence from History: Norris pointed to the team's 2024 comeback from a significant points deficit as proof of their capability, stating the current challenge is about returning to the podium and winning races first.
• Current Standings: After three races, Norris is 36 points behind leader George Russell, with McLaren 80 points adrift of Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship.
• Technical Setbacks: Both McLaren drivers have faced reliability issues. Norris had a power unit-related DNS in China, while teammate Oscar Piastri has yet to complete a Grand Prix lap in 2026 due to a crash in Australia and a separate PU failure.
• Development Pipeline: Norris confirmed the team has "things in the pipeline" to improve the MCL38, acknowledging it will take time to close the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari. McLaren's recent history of effective in-season upgrades is a key reason for their optimism.
• No Regrets on 2025 Focus: Both drivers dismissed the idea that last year's intense title fight with Red Bull hampered their 2026 car development. Piastri clarified the team made a bold, early switch to the new regulations and attributed their position to simply not getting it "quite as right as others."

What's next:

All eyes are on McLaren's development trajectory. The team's stated confidence must now translate into on-track performance, starting with the Japanese Grand Prix. Their ability to understand and optimize the new 2026 power unit, supplied by Mercedes, will be critical. If McLaren can unlock the potential Norris believes is coming, the championship battle could open up dramatically in the second half of the season.