Norris replies to Russell: ‘Sorry mate, that’s not the right me….read more
Lando Norris has rejected George Russell’s suggestion that McLaren could shift its focus entirely to its 2026 car, citing a lack of complacency within the team. Russell, following McLaren’s impressive early-season performances in 2025, suggested that the team could afford to halt development of the MCL39 and concentrate on its 2026 contender. McLaren had a dominant showing at the Australian Grand Prix, with Norris securing pole position alongside teammate Oscar Piastri, who was on track for a potential 1-2 finish before being undone by tricky weather conditions. Despite the disappointment for Piastri, Norris’s strong performance saw McLaren move into a shared lead in the Constructors’ Championship with Mercedes, both teams having 27 points, while Red Bull trailed with 18 points.
However, Norris was quick to dismiss Russell’s comments, making it clear that McLaren wouldn’t be easing off the gas anytime soon. In a post-race press conference, when asked if his Melbourne victory made him the early favorite for the drivers’ title, Norris emphasized that his team’s success was far from secure. He reminded the media of McLaren’s remarkable turnaround in 2024, when they overcame a significant performance deficit early in the season to eventually end up with the fastest car. “We were over half a second off at the beginning of last year behind Red Bull and ended up with the quickest car,” he said.
Addressing Russell’s comment about focusing on 2026, Norris said, “If that’s their mentality, wonderful, but that’s not the mentality to have. Sorry, mate.” He stressed that McLaren’s focus remained firmly on improving the MCL39 for the current season. “If you relax in this position, you fail,” he warned, acknowledging that complacency could lead to failure in Formula 1.
While Norris acknowledged McLaren’s strong position early in the season, he tempered his optimism by cautioning that the season was long and unpredictable. “I do think we’re favorites because the team has done an amazing job, and the car is flying. But we will have races where we struggle,” he said. Norris pointed out that the narrative of the season could have been different had McLaren’s form not been strong at the start of the year. “If we started the season in Bahrain, I don’t think we would have won, and you wouldn’t be asking me this question,” he explained.
Norris’s comments reflect a pragmatic approach born from McLaren’s journey from underdogs to frontrunners. The team’s success in 2024, driven by continuous development, highlighted the dangers of standing still in a sport as competitive as Formula 1. For Norris, the idea of focusing on 2026 now, when so much work is still needed on the current car, was simply not the right approach.
