Freshly crowned world champion, Lando Norris has already set his sights on the future. The McLaren driver has spoken about his hopes for the 2026 Formula 1 season, expressing a clear desire to enjoy more on-track battles with his compatriot Lewis Hamilton, who is coming off a disappointing campaign with Ferrari.
World champion
Lando Norris is the eleventh British driver to have his name added to the Formula 1 history books as a world champion, becoming the first since Lewis Hamilton claimed the world title back in 2020. That year, the current Ferrari driver secured his seventh world championship overall, as well as his sixth title behind the wheel of a Mercedes.
At present, alongside Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, there are two other drivers on the current Formula 1 grid who hold the status of world champion: Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen. It is a select group, one that underlines the level of competition Norris now finds himself among after reaching the very top of the sport.
While Norris is still enjoying the celebrations together with a fellow British team such as McLaren, who also secured the constructors’ championship, the same cannot be said for Sir Lewis Hamilton. In his first season with Ferrari, the seven-time world champion failed to secure a single pole position or podium finish across 24 races, marking a negative record for a Ferrari driver.
The hope of an all-British showdown
It was therefore a disastrous year for the driver of the number 44 car, in stark contrast to the future number 1, who openly shared his wish for the upcoming season. “I would like to fight a bit more with Lewis,” Norris said in an interview with Sky Sports F1. “Hamilton has proven that he is probably the greatest of all time.”
Lando Norris continued by underlining his respect for his compatriot’s ability to bounce back. “Everyone knows that if there is someone who can recover from difficult years, that is Sir Hamilton, and I would love to have more battles against him. It is always a privilege to compete against someone who is the best in the world.”
The McLaren driver also highlighted the quality of the current grid. “There are many of these great drivers on the grid. There is Fernando, Lewis, Max… Many of us want to follow in their footsteps,” Lando Norris added, making it clear that competing against such figures is a key part of his motivation.
The 2026 season is set to be a landmark year in Formula 1 history, with major changes to the technical regulations that make predictions about the next championship extremely difficult. Beyond his desire to battle more closely with Hamilton, Norris made it clear that his primary objective remains unchanged.
“Next year, everyone will have a chance. Everyone is really looking forward to it,” he said. “My rivals will try to take the title away from me, and I want to try to keep it, and I can’t wait to face this battle.”
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