Norris downplays 2026 title chances, names Russell as favorite

Reigning champion Lando Norris has humorously dismissed his status as a favorite for the 2026 Formula 1 title, instead pointing to Mercedes' George Russell as the driver to beat under the new regulations. Norris, who won his first championship with McLaren last season, cited Mercedes' expected development lead with the upcoming power unit changes as a key reason for Russell's advantage.

Why it matters:

The defending champion publicly downplaying his own chances highlights the perceived shift in competitive momentum ahead of a major regulatory overhaul. Norris's comments, wrapped in his signature self-deprecating humor, acknowledge that past success may not translate directly to 2026, putting the spotlight on Mercedes' engineering prowess and Russell's experience within the team.

The details:

• In an interview with Sky Sports F1, Norris laughed and agreed with bookmakers who have installed Russell as the early favorite, stating, "He is the massive favourite, to be honest with you."
• The 2026 season will introduce substantial power unit regulations, and Mercedes is widely expected to lead the initial development race.
• Norris praised the work of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP), which supplies engines to both Mercedes and McLaren, calling their effort "incredible" and noting they have been working on the project "for years already."
• Despite using the same Mercedes power unit, McLaren has outperformed the works Mercedes team in the constructors' championship for the past two seasons.
• Norris emphasized the collaborative relationship, saying, "We work together as a unity. We have the pleasure to work with them and that'll continue for many more years."

What's next:

The true competitive order for the 2026 season will only begin to clarify when testing ramps up and the season opens with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8. While Norris jokes about the odds, his and McLaren's performance will ultimately be determined by how well they adapt their chassis to the new Mercedes power unit and whether they can maintain their recent advantage over the factory Silver Arrows team.