Lando Norris Returns to Track With McLaren’s MCL40 as He Processes First F1 Title
The champion describes a very different-feeling car under new rules, signaling a swift pivot to his title defense.
Overview
- Norris put McLaren’s 2026 MCL40 on track in Barcelona this week, marking the car’s on‑track debut.
- He said the MCL40 feels pretty different, reflecting Formula 1’s brand‑new technical regulations for 2026.
- Norris admitted he is still trying to accept his championship and wished for an extra month to take it all in after a short break.
- He stressed it is back to work now and called the coming season a big challenge given the scale of changes.
- Norris secured the 2025 crown in Abu Dhabi by two points over Max Verstappen and will carry the number 1 on his McLaren this season.