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Lando Norris comes into an F1 season for the first in 2026 as reigning champion
McLaren’s Lando Norris, the 2025 Formula 1 world champion, stated he does not “feel any different” entering the 2026 season and maintains the same ambition. His victory came after a dramatic title fight that concluded in Abu Dhabi.
Initially struggling against McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, Norris improved his performance in the latter half of the season, successfully fending off challenges from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to clinch the championship by a slim two-point margin.
The win marked McLaren’s first world champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008 and the first British champion since Hamilton in 2020. Despite the title, Norris remains focused on winning and has not altered his ambitions.
Entering the new season, Norris expressed his determination to achieve success again and maintain his competitive spirit. McLaren’s 2026 campaign began with testing in Barcelona and is set to continue with the official Bahrain test and season launch on 9 February.
