Lando Norris has shared his admiration for how Max Verstappen goes racing, as he admits he’s still not at the level he needs to be. The reigning F1 champion is heading into the 2026 season hoping to defend his crown with McLaren. It also coincides with a change in regulations that will see the start of a completely different era in the sport.
We’re going to see completely new power units that will have a 50-50 split in terms of power produced by fuel and electric. The first pre-season test/shakedown is already done, and it once again showed that the top four teams have emerged more or less as the frontrunners. For Lando Norris himself, this is an opportunity to not only defend his title but also show what progress he’s made after winning his first championship in 2025.
Often, however, Lando Norris does get compared to Max Verstappen, who is the benchmark in F1. The Dutch driver fell short of what would have been a fifth consecutive title in 2025 by just two points. Even then, the driver was considered the cream of the crop for the season.
Talking to the media, including PlanetF1, Lando Norris was questioned about his approach compared to Max Verstappen, to which the Brit admitted that both drivers had a slightly different way of approaching racing. He did, however, reveal that there were things he admired about Verstappen’s driving and knew he’s yet to reach the level he needs to be at. He said,
“It’s quite clear that I have a different mentality and a different approach to, say, what Max has. Good or bad, you decide. There are a lot of things that I still admire about Max, and I wish I had a little bit more of that, here and there. I’m always trying to improve my things. I know there are still areas where I’m not at the level I need to be. It’s still a good level but, when you’re fighting these guys, you need to be close to perfection.”
He added,
“So there are still plenty of things I want to work on and I want to be better at, but the baseline level of where I’m at now is already pretty good, and my motivation to win is exactly the same.”
Lando Norris opens up on his approach after becoming a world champion
It is often stated by many drivers in the past that winning a championship takes the burden off the shoulders, and once that box is ticked, things become much easier. Lando Norris, however, felt that his approach and his thought process have continued to be the same as they were in the past. He said,
“Honestly, no. As much as I say that, I don’t feel any different coming into this season. I still feel like I just want to go out and win. I feel like there’s just quite a baseline feeling, and there consistently is.”
He added,
“I think just more, at the end of the day, if I don’t achieve something again, I always have something that I’m very proud about and I know is a huge achievement, but it certainly hasn’t taken away any ambition or desire to want to do it again, or to come into this season and go and not care about it.”
Heading into the 2026 F1 season, Lando Norris will be hoping McLaren has produced a competent package as he tries to defend his maiden world championship.
Edited by Charanjot Singh Kohli
