Norris: 'I've Changed My Driving Style Every Year in F1'

Lando Norris has little sympathy for drivers struggling to adapt to Formula 1's reset in 2026, revealing he has been forced to change his driving style every single year since joining the grid. The McLaren driver's blunt assessment comes amid ongoing debate about the sport's new era, with George Russell admitting his traditional approach is failing to gel with the latest machinery.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulations have fundamentally altered car behavior, and the season has already exposed who can recalibrate quickly. Norris's comments cut through the paddock noise by framing adaptability not as a special skill, but as a basic obligation for anyone holding a top-tier seat.

The details:

• Norris said his natural style only worked during his 2018 Hungary test, and he has spent his entire F1 career relearning how to extract pace.
• The 2026 rules have moved the sport away from the ground-effect concepts introduced in 2022, reshaping car behavior across the grid.
• Russell has repeatedly trailed teammate Kimi Antonelli, conceding that a technique refined over two decades is no longer delivering results.
• Norris offered little sympathy, arguing drivers are paid to master any equipment they are given. "Every single race... I feel like I have to completely forget the last weekend and learn how to drive a new car," he said.

Between the lines:

By framing his career as constant reinvention while rivals mourn familiar machinery, Norris is setting a clear standard. There is an edge to his words, suggesting experience should accelerate adaptation rather than excuse resistance to it.

What's next:

With the championship fight tightening, rapidly interpreting shifting car behavior could prove decisive. For Norris, the message is clear: adapt to what is in front of you, or risk being left behind.