Lando Norris believes drivers and teams will have to \u201cthrow most things out of the window\u201d in a \u201cfresh slate\u201d of a season in F1 2026.<\/p>\n
Norris will carry the number 1 on his car during the 2026 campaign, in what is a year of complete reset in Formula 1 \u2013 with all-new chassis and power units, and a new team on an expanded 22-car grid.<\/p>\n
Lando Norris: \u2018Have to forget most things\u2019 in F1 2026 reset<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Norris returned to the McLaren<\/a> Technology Centre last week for the first time in 2026, taking in two days of simulator running as he gets to grips with the car with which he will defend his title.<\/p>\n The introduction of greater electrical power and battery deployment around a lap, along with narrower tyres, shorter, slimmer and lighter cars, have all combined to create what is set to be a completely different driving experience in 2026.<\/p>\n Such are the differences he has noticed in his simulator that Norris suggested drivers have to almost \u201cforget everything\u201d in what they utilised before, to take on an altogether different approach for F1 2026.<\/p>\n Speaking in a video posted to McLaren\u2019s social media channels, Norris said: \u201cI\u2019m back.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my second day already, not my first, but it starts all over again, yesterday, which doesn\u2019t feel like that long ago I was speaking to you guys back in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n Looking ahead to huge changes in the F1 2026 season<\/p>\n Explained: F1\u2019s complex power unit upgrade system from 2026 onwards<\/a><\/p>\n F1 2025 vs F1 2026: Nine key questions ahead of huge regulation changes<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBut, [I\u2019m] excited. It\u2019s a completely new season. You kind of have to forget everything \u2013 not some things \u2013 but most things, you\u2019ve got to kind of throw out the window because it\u2019s a fresh slate, [a] clean piece of paper for everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, excited, many more challenges, but excited for all of it.<\/p>\n \u201cBeen on the sim today, been on the sim yesterday, plenty of new things, new questions, new challenges, new bits and bobs and things I\u2019ve got to remember.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re doing our best to make sure we\u2019re as prepared as we can. We\u2019ve got testing at the end of the month already, so it\u2019s coming along quickly. But yeah, I\u2019m excited.\u201d<\/p>\n Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri will be getting their first taste of the new McLaren in behind-closed-doors testing in Barcelona from 26-30 January, with the team launching its new challenger on 9 February.<\/p>\n Two more pre-season tests will follow in Bahrain from 11-13 February and 18-20 February, before the season gets underway at the Australian Grand Prix on 8 March.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n