Lando Norris has made it clear that he hopes to battle Lewis Hamilton far more frequently once the all-new 2026 Formula 1 regulations arrive. Despite both drivers competing in the same era, direct on-track duels between the two British stars were a rarity during the 2025 season due to Ferrari’s struggles.
Norris sealed his first Formula 1 world championship with a composed third-place finish in Abu Dhabi, becoming the 11th British driver to win the title and giving McLaren their first drivers’ crown since Lewis Hamilton’s triumph back in 2008. While Hamilton did not openly set a championship goal in his first year at Ferrari, expectations within Maranello were far higher than what the team ultimately delivered.
After winning the Sprint in China early in the campaign, Lewis Hamilton never made it onto a Grand Prix podium again throughout 2025. Ferrari’s inconsistent car performance and lack of development left him unable to fight regularly at the front, and the seven-time champion ended the season sixth in the standings—267 points behind Lando Norris.
Lando Norris believes Lewis Hamilton will “bounce back” with the 2026 Ferrari
During an appearance on The F1 Show, Lando Norris was asked whether he expects a closer fight with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in 2026, when radically redesigned cars and power units are set to reshape the competitive order.
Max Verstappen recently claimed that Lewis Hamilton would “definitely” not be getting any faster at his age, while Charles Leclerc suggested the same by emphasising his own strong progression. Lando Norris, however, took a very different stance. He expressed full confidence that Hamilton could rebound strongly once Ferrari unleash their 2026 challenger.
Norris explained that he believed Hamilton had proven himself to be one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history and insisted that if any driver could overturn two difficult seasons, it would be Lewis Hamilton. He added that Ferrari’s deeper struggles in 2025 had masked Hamilton’s true potential and that the reset coming in 2026 could play directly into the veteran’s hands.
Norris also shared that he would personally welcome more wheel-to-wheel action with Hamilton in the future, noting that racing a driver of his calibre remained a privilege. He suggested that the introduction of next-generation machinery could finally put Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and McLaren’s Lando Norris back into regular combat on equal footing.
Looking ahead to 2026, numerous analysts believe Mercedes may emerge as the early favourites under the new power unit rules—a scenario that could make George Russell one of the primary contenders for Lando Norris’ title. Yet the McLaren man maintained that a revitalised Lewis Hamilton in a competitive Ferrari could be just as dangerous.
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