Lando Norris Sees McLaren Advantage in Mercedes Title Battle

Lando Norris believes the intense intra-team championship fight between Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell could play into McLaren's hands as they work to close the performance gap. The reigning champion noted that the more points the Mercedes duo take from each other, the better for rival teams trying to catch up, drawing a parallel to his own title battle with Max Verstappen last season.

Why it matters:

With Mercedes securing all three wins to start the 2026 season, their internal competition is a rare source of potential vulnerability for the dominant team. For McLaren, which has struggled to carry its 2025 title-winning form into the new regulatory era, any factor that hinders Mercedes' points accumulation is a critical opportunity to stage a comeback in both championships.

The details:

• Mercedes has started the 2026 season dominantly, with Kimi Antonelli leading teammate George Russell in the standings after three consecutive team victories.
• McLaren, and reigning champion Lando Norris, have yet to score a podium finish, highlighting a significant performance deficit under the new regulations.
• Norris openly hopes the close fight at Mercedes continues, as it could mean the leading drivers split points, leaving the door open for competitors.
• He praised Antonelli's performance, noting the rookie's convincing pace against the established Russell is "cool to see."
• Norris explicitly compared the situation to 2025, when he and teammate Oscar Piastri were battling for the title, which allowed Red Bull's Max Verstappen to mount a late-season charge.
  • He hopes for a "similar story, but the other way around," with McLaren becoming the threat from behind.

What's next:

McLaren's immediate focus is on rapid development to recapture its lost pace. The team has a proven recent history of in-season turnarounds, having done so in 2023 and 2024. If they can unlock performance, the internal Mercedes rivalry could provide the strategic opening Norris is anticipating, setting the stage for a multi-team championship fight as the season progresses.