Norris hopes for more battles with Hamilton in 2026

Lando Norris admits he would "love" to race more against Lewis Hamilton in the 2026 season, backing the sport's most successful driver to recover from a challenging debut year at Ferrari. The new world champion, who became the first British driver since Hamilton to win the title, sees the upcoming regulation overhaul as a chance for renewed rivalries at the front of the grid.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's difficult 2025 season, where he failed to score a podium for the first time in his career, marked a significant shift in the competitive order. Norris's public wish for more battles with the seven-time champion underscores a desire among the new generation to test themselves against F1's established greats, especially with a major rules reset on the horizon that could reshuffle the pack.

The details:

• In an exclusive interview, Norris expressed his hope for different battles in 2026, specifically naming compatriots Hamilton and George Russell.
• He acknowledged Ferrari's struggles in 2025, which saw the team finish fourth without a win, were worse than expected.
• Norris placed his faith in Hamilton's ability to rebound, stating, "Lewis has proved himself to be probably the best of all time. Everyone knows if anyone can bounce back from difficult years, it's Mr Hamilton."
• He described racing against drivers like Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Max Verstappen as a "privilege," recognizing them as benchmarks for himself and other rising talents like Oscar Piastri.

What's next:

The comprehensive 2026 regulation changes, affecting chassis, aerodynamics, and power units, present a clean slate for all teams. Norris believes this offers "everyone's got an opportunity" to improve. With one of the shortest off-seasons on record due to an early start in 2026, drivers and teams have limited time to prepare for what could be a dramatically reshaped competitive landscape, where Norris will aim to defend his crown against a motivated field.