Norris remains confident McLaren will return to winning ways despite slow start

Reigning world champion Lando Norris is urging patience and projecting confidence, insisting McLaren has the potential to rebound from a difficult start to the 2026 season and return to the top step of the podium. Despite a double-DNS in China and a crash for teammate Oscar Piastri in Australia, Norris believes the team's underlying performance and past comeback experience provide a solid foundation for recovery.

Why it matters:

As the defending champion and leader of a team that has won the last two constructors' titles, Norris's mindset sets the tone for McLaren's response to early adversity. His public confidence, rooted in the car's perceived potential and the team's proven ability to develop through a season, is crucial for morale and signals to rivals that McLaren views its current third-place standing as a temporary setback, not a true reflection of its capabilities.

The details:

• Acknowledged Shortfall, Focus on Potential: Norris openly admitted McLaren is not where it wants to be, currently positioned as the third-best team. However, he repeatedly emphasized the MCL38 has "a lot of potential" waiting to be unlocked through ongoing development work at the factory.
• Historical Precedent for Comebacks: The British driver pointed to the team's remarkable 2024 season recovery, where they overturned a deficit of over 150 points to win the constructors' championship, as proof that McLaren can climb back from a significant points gap.
• Immediate Goals: Norris outlined a clear, step-by-step ambition: first, return to the podium, then return to winning races. He believes championship points will naturally follow if these performance goals are met.
• Learning from China Setback: The double non-start in Shanghai, caused by separate battery issues on each car, was described as a painful but educational moment. Norris confirmed the team has worked closely with engine supplier Mercedes HPP to understand the failure and prevent a recurrence, calling it a "live and you learn" experience.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to unlocking the car's performance at the upcoming races. Norris's message is one of calm determination, framing the early struggles as a challenge the team is equipped to overcome.

• With development updates in the pipeline and a championship-winning team structure, McLaren's season will be defined by its rate of improvement relative to early leaders Ferrari and Mercedes.
• Norris's belief that they can build "the best car on the grid" again this year sets a high internal benchmark. The coming races will test whether the team's development can match the champion's confidence.