Lando Norris’s confidence surge has propelled McLaren to a spirited start in 2026, halting Mercedes’s lead as he clinches Hungary’s race from pole.
From 2025 Slump to World Champion
Last season’s early struggles left Norris questioning his self‑belief, yet a gritty performance in Abu Dhabi’s finale turned him into Formula 1’s reigning champion.
Team principal Andrea Stella highlighted that the challenge was as much mental as technical: “Lando had to dig deep, adapt his driving style to the older McLaren and emerge better.”
Stella praised the driver’s willingness to work closely with engineers and his crew, remarking that “the first person, the group of engineers around him, all the entourage – it was great work of development.”
2026 Pacing with the Upgraded MCL40
The upgraded MCL40 has been a game changer, giving Norris the pace to tackle low‑grip circuits like the Hungaroring.
After qualifying from pole, Norris reclaimed the Austrian corner advantage and, in a clean 58‑lap run, secured his first win for McLaren in 2026.
“I feel like I’m doing a better job this year than I was last year,” Norris told reporters; he added, “today’s car proved exactly that.”
He pointed to small, incremental gains that “add up” on track and off, noting “a lot of small differences.”
Internal Battle Turns into Team Growth
While Norris dominates Marcos overtaking, teammate Oscar Piastri has begun to close the gap, showing signs of improvement with the 2026 car.
In the early‑season Monaco GP, Piastri won the sprint qualifying, flipping the 11‑4 internal duel in favour of the 2025 champion.
Stella said the experience is a “great trajectory of development for Lando” and parallels “the same with Oscar.” He added that Piastri is still learning to handle low‑grip sessions and expects a stronger performance later in the season.
Confidence as the New Super‑charger
According to staff, the confidence growth is not just a personal victory but a catalyst for McLaren’s strategic resurgence.
With Norris proving the upgraded chassis delivers real speed and Piastri gaining traction, the team aims to turn the 2026 title into a dominant legacy.
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