Lando Norris backs McLaren to rescue 2026 F1 world title defence
Reigning world champion Lando Norris insists McLaren will not give up on their 2026 title defence despite falling 47 points behind Mercedes.
The British driver has failed to record a podium finish in the opening three races of the sport’s new era.
However, team-mate Oscar Piastri secured a promising second-place finish at the recent Japanese Grand Prix to boost morale within the camp.
Turning the tide in Miami
Formula 1 returns from an enforced five-week break with a Sprint weekend at the Miami Grand Prix in early May.
The Woking-based outfit have utilised this extended gap to address early reliability issues affecting their chassis and power unit.
“I think we can have a good season, even if we’re not where we want to be right now,” said Norris.
“This isn’t a case of giving up and focusing on next year – I’m not sure if that approach ever really works.”
Overcoming the Mercedes deficit
The 26-year-old currently trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who has spearheaded a dominant start for the Silver Arrows alongside a resurgent Ferrari.
McLaren possess a proven track record of mid-season recoveries, having successfully overhauled significant performance deficits during the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
“We’ve been there, done it, learned from it and I trust that this team knows how to do it again,” he added.
Securing valuable track time remains the primary objective as the reigning constructors’ champions attempt to unlock the ultimate pace of their new machinery.
“Tiny, tiny margins make significant differences,” the championship hopeful explained.
