Lando Norris says he “does not have the ability” to know if the oddities in McLaren F1 cars is unique to the team.
Since Norris debuted in F1 in 2019, two of his F1 team-mates Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo have spoken of the unique traits the Woking designs carry compared to those of other teams they have driven for.
McLaren has had a tendency to struggle in low-speed corners and turning whilst braking through hairpins, whilst the cars have excelled in high-speed, fast-flowing sections of track.
For 2026, the design of the cars themselves changed massively with the new chasiss regulations, marking a departure from the ground effect rules whereby downforce was generated by the floor being as close as possible to the track.
Now, downforce is generated through the more 2021-style of aerodynamic surfaces, and whilst he believes it is a driver’s job to adapt to the new breed of machine, the reigning champion explained that he “doesn’t have the ability” to know if the “odd” and “unique” traits McLaren cars show are exactly that.
“I certainly think this year’s car is different to last year by quite a long way, and again, you have to adapt to that,” Norris told media, including RacingNews365.
“I don’t know if this car is that different to other cars. I still believe it is, because it has been since I’ve been part of McLaren. Everyone who’s driven a McLaren has said how odd and unique a McLaren is to drive, and there’s been a good number of drivers who have said that and tested other cars at the same time.
“It’s hard to know if that’s a split between McLaren, but I’m speaking from what I know from last year’s car, an era of car to this year’s car.
“You have to drive it in a very different way, and there’s a lot of things I’ve had to adapt to at the beginning of the year to understand this year’s car, but I don’t think I have the ability to differentiate if it’s a McLaren thing or so.”
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Norris points to one area of difference
One area Norris highlighted as creating a different feeling was the tyres, which due to the smaller chassis in 2026 are themselves smaller in design, with the resulting smaller contact patch meaning less downforce through corners.
“I am 90% sure that it is more than just the mechanical balance, and the way that this car is made compared to the last few years is quite different,” Norris added.
“The tyres are obviously very different at the same time, smaller and have less temperature, and all of these different things.
“Therefore, you have to adapt to them more this year, compared to last year.”