BREAKING: Lando Norris has Finally accepted that...read more

Lando Norris accepts he is not the favourite for 2026 F1 title

Reigning world champion Lando Norris has admitted he agrees with predictions that he is unlikely to defend his Formula 1 title in 2026, with McLaren not expected to lead the field under the sport’s new regulations.

Norris secured his maiden championship last season after a dramatic finale in Abu Dhabi, edging out Max Verstappen by just two points after 24 races. The Brit also faced intense pressure from his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri during a highly competitive year.

Despite that success, early expectations for 2026 point towards Mercedes as the team to beat. None of last season’s top three drivers are among the bookmakers’ favourites, with George Russell instead tipped as the leading contender.

Mercedes have a strong record when new rules are introduced and underlined their early promise during January’s Barcelona shakedown. George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli completed around 500 laps over three days, the highest total of any team present, highlighting both performance and reliability.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Norris acknowledged Russell’s status as favourite.

“He’s the clear favourite and I fully agree with that,” Norris said, adding that he believes Russell is destined to win a world championship.

Addressing suggestions that Mercedes’ power unit could give them an edge, Norris played down concerns for McLaren, who remain a customer team.

“It’s a huge project and everything takes time,” he explained. “They’ve been developing this engine for years. We’ll all be learning, but we share the same engine supplier and work closely together, which is a big positive for us.”

Norris also stressed that a potential title fight with Russell would not harm their relationship, praising the mutual respect between the two British drivers.

The 2026 Formula 1 season gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8, following two pre-season testing sessions in Bahrain scheduled for February 11–13 and February 18–20.

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