Norris debuts gold helmet as F1 gets early glimpse of 2026 regulations in Abu Dhabi test

Newly crowned world champion Lando Norris debuted a golden helmet design during post-season testing in Abu Dhabi, just two days after securing the title. The test session provided an early look at the technical direction for the 2026 season, with teams running mule cars to simulate next year's reduced-downforce regulations and evaluate Pirelli's new tire range.

Why it matters:

This test serves as the first practical step into the 2026 regulatory era, offering a crucial early dataset for teams and tire suppliers. The appearance of active-aero prototypes and the new tire specifications marks the beginning of a significant technical transition that will define the competitive landscape for the coming years.

The details:

• Norris, who confirmed he will switch to car number one for his title defense in 2026, used his familiar number four for this final run of the year. He completed the morning session for McLaren before handing the MCL39 over to teammate Oscar Piastri.
• The session was split, with all ten teams required to field one experienced driver in a mule car for tire work and one rookie. This led to a mix of familiar faces and new arrivals, including Red Bull's Isack Hadjar and 18-year-old Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad.
• Young drivers topped the timesheets, with Aston Martin junior Jak Crawford setting the fastest lap (1m23.766s) ahead of Sauber's Paul Aron and Williams' Luke Browning.
• Technical Preview: Mercedes trialed a prototype front-wing active-aero system, using nose-mounted actuators to open wing elements on straights. This system is designed to mimic the Straight Line Mode that will replace DRS in 2026. Ferrari also continued evaluation of similar concepts.
• New Tire Range: Pirelli unveiled its complete 2026 tire range for the first time, featuring a revised sidewall graphic with a chequered-flag motif. The tires are physically smaller, with tread widths reduced by 25mm (front) and 30mm (rear), and overall diameter down by up to 15mm.

What's next:

Pirelli will homologate the 2026 tires on December 15. The new specifications will make their first appearance on actual 2026 cars at the pre-season test in Barcelona in late January, giving teams their first true read on the performance of the new package. The test also confirmed that preparations for the major regulatory shift are already in full swing, setting the stage for a critical development period over the winter.