Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris is facing imminent grid penalties at the Japanese Grand Prix after McLaren were forced to fit his final permitted battery pack of the season.
The Briton is only at the third race of a 22-event calendar but has already exhausted his initial allocation of hybrid engine components.
Norris missed the previous race in China due to a terminal failure with his car’s energy store.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella confirmed that the power unit component used in Shanghai cannot be salvaged.
Reliability woes threaten title defence
A further setback occurred at Suzuka on Saturday when engineers detected another fault before final practice and qualifying.
The Woking-based outfit were forced to hastily install a third battery pack to ensure their lead driver could participate in the sessions.
Under current FIA regulations, drivers are restricted to using just three energy stores across the entire campaign.
McLaren race against time for repairs
If the British racer requires a fourth unit between now and December, he will automatically incur a 10-place grid penalty.
Stella explained the team’s predicament and their hopes of avoiding a severe handicap to their championship ambitions.
“The problem we noticed before the start of FP3 was on the same power unit component, the Hertz module, which includes the battery.”
“The only way to remove the pack is to investigate it. Once investigated, we realised that it will take time to attempt a repair.”
Margin for error erased
“We needed to give Lando the possibility to do the session, so we introduced a third battery pack.”
The Italian team boss remains hopeful that the damaged Suzuka unit can be repaired and returned to the pool of available parts.
If the mechanics cannot salvage the component, Norris will be left navigating the remaining 19 races without any technical safety net.
Max Verstappen has labelled his Red Bull “completely undriveable” after suffering a shock Q2 elimination during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.
The four-time world champion will start Sunday’s race at Suzuka from 11th on the grid following another difficult session in the 2026 season.
It continues a dismal start to the campaign for the 28-year-old, who has accumulated just eight championship points across the opening two rounds.
Despite safely navigating the first phase, the Dutchman failed to crack the top 10 shootout.
He was ultimately outpaced by far less experienced drivers, including team-mate Isack Hadjar and rookie Arvid Lindblad.
‘Beyond frustrated’ by ongoing struggles
The defending champion vented his anger over the team radio immediately after his elimination was confirmed.
“I think there is something wrong with the car. It’s completely undriveable suddenly in this qualifying.”
His latest setback follows a Q1 crash in Australia and finishes outside the top 10 in both the sprint and feature races in China.
Suzuka has traditionally been a stronghold for the Red Bull talisman, raising hopes of a return to form this weekend.
However, ongoing mechanical mysteries appear to be severely hampering his confidence behind the wheel.
Setup tweaks fail to yield results
Speaking to the media post-session, the seasoned racer admitted he was stuck and unable to push the limits of his machinery.
“We made changes all weekend, but at the same time we also have some problems in the car that we’re trying to fix, and I guess it was worse again in qualifying.”
He noted that the handling became unpredictable whenever he attempted to attack the high-speed corners.
“As soon as you really tried to push, for me it was just all over the place. Really not good, and also really doesn’t give you confidence.”
The former title dominator believes an unidentified issue has developed since the opening round in Melbourne.
“I’m not even frustrated anymore, you know, I’m beyond that.”
Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes four-time world champion Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull to join Mercedes at the end of the current season.
Montoya is convinced that discussions between the 28-year-old and the Silver Arrows are already actively taking place.
The reigning constructors’ champions have endured a difficult start to their campaign, leaving them trailing significantly behind the frontrunners.
This poor form has fuelled intense speculation regarding the Dutch driver’s long-term future with the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Wolff denies transfer rumours
Despite Montoya’s claims, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has moved to firmly deny any ongoing pursuit of the superstar driver.
Wolff insisted he is perfectly content with his current driver pairing of George Russell and highly-rated rookie Kimi Antonelli.
“Someone said that the Max discussions will eventually come back on the table again, but no, there are not any Max discussions.”
The Austrian executive highlighted that the age gap between Russell and Antonelli aligns perfectly with the team’s long-term strategy.
“I could not be happier with the two drivers that we have.”
Red Bull’s desperate retention bid
Mercedes originally attempted to sign the prodigious talent before his Formula 1 debut, but Red Bull ultimately secured his coveted signature.
Montoya now feels the reigning champions are incredibly vulnerable to losing their prized asset.
“I think Red Bull are in a position where whatever Max wants, they’ll say yes to make sure they don’t lose him.”
The Colombian told Spanish publication AS that a change of scenery is now almost inevitable.
“Now, I actually believe that whatever happens, they’re going to lose him.”
Clear contracts in place
Wolff remains completely resolute that his team’s driver line-up is permanently settled for the foreseeable future.
“The Max to Mercedes thing for now is not on.”
He added that George Russell has been part of their setup since 2017 and sees no reason why that relationship will not continue.
“The situation is completely transparent, and we have clear contracts with both drivers.”
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso continues to battle severe cockpit vibrations at the Japanese Grand Prix, extending a torrid start to the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The Silverstone-based outfit have struggled immensely with their new AMR26 challenger since the opening race in Australia.
Recent onboard footage from practice sessions indicates the car remains incredibly difficult and physically taxing to handle.
Physical toll and injury fears
Team principal Adrian Newey previously warned that the violent shaking could cause permanent nerve damage to the drivers’ hands.
The veteran Spaniard reportedly felt he could not safely complete more than 25 consecutive laps under such brutal conditions.
His Canadian team-mate, Lance Stroll, faced an even lower threshold of just 15 laps before the discomfort became overwhelming.
Consequently, neither man managed to complete the full 58-lap race distance during the season opener in Melbourne.
Desperate measures in China
Similar reliability and handling issues plagued the British constructor during the subsequent race in Shanghai.
Footage from Alonso’s onboard camera showed the 44-year-old taking his hands off the steering wheel on straight sections simply to find temporary physical relief.
“From lap 20 to 35, I was struggling a little bit to feel my hands and my feet.”
The two-time world champion explained to the media that the shaking was worse than in any previous session.
“We were one lap behind, we were last, and there was probably no point to keep going.”
No quick fix for Honda
Aston Martin and engine supplier Honda have clearly failed to identify the root cause of the problem during the two-week break before Japan.
Fresh footage circulating online from practice starts confirms the violent shuddering remains a significant hurdle.
The ongoing crisis leaves the ambitious racing team facing the grim prospect of another heavily compromised Grand Prix weekend.
Lewis Hamilton is searching for a setup breakthrough with his Ferrari after struggling for pace during Friday practice at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion finished sixth in both sessions at Suzuka, trailing eight-tenths behind the benchmark set by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
He visibly battled with oversteer throughout the day, a handling issue that also heavily affected his team-mate Charles Leclerc.
During the longer runs towards the end of the second session, the British driver admitted over team radio that he had no confidence in the car.
Seeking a north star for qualifying
Despite the difficult running, the 41-year-old remains optimistic about finding a solution ahead of Saturday’s crucial qualifying session.
He noted similarities in the car’s handling to setup issues he experienced last year, providing a potential direction for overnight engineering changes.
“I feel I’ve got a bit of a north star, it’s just how we get there, so I’m going to try to figure that out,” Hamilton explained.
“It’s an awesome circuit but you need to be able to sit in the rear and be comfortable it will stay with you and today I had the snaps.”
The Ferrari driver confirmed the team will dive deeply into overnight simulator data to close the performance gap to their rivals.
McLaren surprise championship leaders
At the front of the field, McLaren emerged as genuine contenders for pole position to challenge the recently dominant Mercedes team.
Championship leader George Russell finished two-tenths behind Piastri in second practice.
The Mercedes driver, who currently holds a slender four-point championship lead over team-mate Kimi Antonelli, admitted his surprise at McLaren’s blistering pace.
“McLaren were pretty fast, a little bit of a surprise, so we still have some improvements we need to do tonight,” Russell said.
However, it was not a completely smooth day for the Woking-based squad.
Lando Norris was forced to miss 20 crucial minutes of the afternoon session following a costly hydraulics leak.
The British driver conceded the lost track time leaves him on the back foot heading into the remainder of the race weekend.
Lewis Hamilton will face no further action from the FIA stewards following a near-miss with Max Verstappen during opening practice at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The flashpoint occurred between turns 14 and 15 at Suzuka when the seven-time world champion was accused of driving erratically while on a slow lap.
Verstappen rapidly approached in his Red Bull during a flying lap, forcing the Dutchman to dart down the left side of the track to avoid Hamilton’s Ferrari.
The incident immediately sparked a furious reaction from the reigning world champion, who voiced his explicit frustration over the team radio.
FIA clears Hamilton of dangerous driving
Following a review of video footage and radio communications, the sport’s governing body determined that no penalty was necessary for the alleged impeding.
The stewards noted that Hamilton had received no prior warning from his pit wall regarding the rapidly approaching car.
As Car 3 closed on Car 44, Car 44 made an initial movement suggesting a move to the left, but ultimately remained to the right-hand side of the track.
Officials confirmed that Verstappen was able to pass the slower vehicle without being required to brake, lift, or deviate from his intended racing line.
Red Bull downplay Suzuka incident
Despite his initial outburst over the radio, Verstappen’s own camp ultimately helped to defuse the situation during the subsequent hearing.
A representative for the 26-year-old informed the stewards that the situation was not considered dangerous from his perspective.
In this case, the Stewards are satisfied that, although Car 3 was momentarily influenced by the positioning of Car 44, it was not forced to take evasive action.
While avoiding sanctions, Ferrari were reminded of their obligation to ensure timely warnings are provided to their drivers regarding approaching traffic.
Verstappen was also required to visit the stewards for a separate incident involving Franco Colapinto during the eventful second practice session.
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has described the new Formula 1 regulations as the most enjoyable of his career following a thrilling multi-lap battle at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion compared his recent on-track duel with team-mate Charles Leclerc to his famous 2014 rivalry with Nico Rosberg.
His positive assessment arrives amid ongoing paddock debate regarding the profound impact of the newly introduced car and engine rules.
The sport’s updated hybrid power units now feature an equal split between internal combustion and electrical power.
The rise of ‘yo-yo racing’
These energy-starved powerplants force drivers to constantly manage battery levels throughout a lap.
This dynamic has led to what critics have dubbed “yo-yo racing” during the opening two grands prix of the season.
Competitors frequently pass and re-pass each other across multiple laps as their systems deploy varying levels of electrical energy.
However, the 39-year-old insists this strategic energy management mirrors the pure, close-quarters competition found in grassroots motorsport.
“If you go back to karting, it’s the same thing. People going back and forth, back and forth, you can never break away,” Hamilton explained.
“No one ever has ever referred to go-karting as yo-yo racing. It’s the best form of racing, and Formula 1 has not been the best form of racing in a long, long time.”
Aerodynamic gains and qualifying concerns
Beyond the engine regulations, the former Mercedes star highlighted the significantly improved aerodynamic characteristics of the current machinery.
The British veteran noted that these lighter, more nimble cars finally allow drivers to follow closely through high-speed corners without suffering a sudden loss of downforce.
Despite his undeniable enthusiasm for Sunday race days, he acknowledged the inherent paradox created during Saturday qualifying sessions.
The intense need to harvest electrical energy leaves the cars feeling under-powered during a single flying lap, effectively reducing the ultimate driving challenge.
Pushing for improvements ahead of Miami
While the experienced racer admits to disliking both the power deployment and straight-line modes, he remains convinced the overall package benefits the sporting spectacle.
Governing body the FIA recently met with team bosses to rigorously assess the current qualifying limitations.
Officials are attempting to find actionable improvements before the upcoming Miami Grand Prix in five weeks’ time.
Furthermore, immediate regulatory tweaks have already been implemented for this weekend’s race in Japan to slightly reduce the total volume of energy cars are permitted to recover.
Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris believes McLaren will develop the best car on the grid this season despite a challenging start to his title defence.
The British driver suffered a Did Not Start in China due to an electrical failure and finished fifth at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Those results leave him 36 points adrift of early championship leader George Russell ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
McLaren target podium return
The Woking-based team are already facing a significant constructors’ deficit, sitting 80 points behind early leaders Mercedes.
Despite the initial setback in the new 2026 regulation era, the 26-year-old remains highly optimistic about their development pipeline.
He pointed to his team’s impressive mid-season turnaround in 2024 as definitive proof of their recovery capabilities.
“I can’t remember how many points we were behind in 2024 from Mercedes and Red Bull, Ferrari, but I think we were over 150 points or something behind and we still managed to come back and win the Constructors’,” Norris said.
Patience required in development race
“What we are thinking of is getting on the podium first of all, and then just returning to winning races,” he added.
“The points then take care of themselves and we’ll see what we can claw back.”
While the exact cause of the recent power unit failure remains undisclosed, engine supplier Mercedes have reportedly identified and resolved the issue to prevent any recurrence.
McLaren have established a formidable reputation in recent years for delivering effective mid-season upgrades without compromising reliability.
Focusing on the bigger picture
The sweeping 2026 aerodynamic and engine regulation changes have reshuffled the competitive order, temporarily leaving the defending champions playing catch-up.
Teammate Oscar Piastri shares the internal optimism as the garage prepares for crucial practice sessions at Suzuka.
“I want to say I think we’re confident as a team and we believe in ourselves that we’ve won the last two championships,” Norris explained.
“The real question you probably ask is would I rather be here and have won last year, or would I rather have a slightly better car now and not have won last year, and I think you know what my answer would be.”