The final days of pre-season Formula 1 testing in Bahrain have thrown the spotlight on reigning world champion Lando Norris and the McLaren team as they prepare to defend both their drivers’ and constructors’ titles under a sweeping new set of 2026 regulations. Despite the optimism that comes from holding the championship crown, Norris has been candid about the challenges facing McLaren, offering a refreshingly honest assessment of where the team stands as the season opener in Melbourne looms.
After a dominant 2025 campaign that saw McLaren outpace rivals Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull, the British outfit finds itself in unfamiliar territory. The new technical regulations for 2026 have reset much of the competitive order, and Norris has not shied away from admitting that McLaren is, at present, "a little bit off" the pace of its main competitors. During Day 2 of the final Bahrain test, Norris completed 72 laps and secured fifth fastest on the timing sheets with a 1:33.453, trailing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who topped the charts with a 1:33.739, and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.
"At the minute, we’re a little bit off, so to match the race pace of some of the others, we have to push a bit more and then we have more degradations," Norris explained to the assembled media, including GPblog. "It’s not as simple as just continuing from last year and saying it’s the same thing again. You know at the minute we have to improve the car quite a bit if we want to compete a bit more to be confident for the first race, but I feel confident."
This frank admission is a marked shift from the confidence that flowed through the McLaren camp last year. In 2025, Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri often enjoyed a pace advantage that allowed them to manage races from the front, even when qualifying didn’t go to plan. "Last year we also had just a pace advantage. So going into the race, we could almost drive slower. Things worked better, and then we could drive quicker," Norris recalled in a Bahrain press conference. "At the minute, we're a little bit off. So to match the race pace of some of the others, we have to push a bit more, and then we have more degradation."
Norris’ outlook is not one of resignation, but rather a pragmatic recognition of the work ahead. He remains buoyed by the confidence that comes from having already achieved the sport’s ultimate prize. "I feel better than I’ve ever done. Certainly after last year in winning the championship, that’s given me the confidence, so it’s reassuring to know that I’ve done it once and therefore I believe I can do it again. That’s a good thing, but it’s a long season and I’ll make sure I do my part. Together as a team we’ll make sure we give ourselves the best opportunity to do it again."
McLaren’s engineers have been working tirelessly in the Sakhir paddock, poring over data and seeking elusive improvements in areas such as race pace, tyre cooling, and overall car balance. Norris acknowledged that some of the team’s strengths from last season should carry over, but emphasized that the 2026 car is still in its infancy. "The car worked very well last year. It was difficult to understand, but it worked well. And it's still just very, very early days for this car at the minute. So we'll be continuing to look into that. Of course, I would love that, because even when we had a bad quali, we knew we would have a good Sunday. And that was always something to look forward to. So the team are working hard on every area. That includes race pace, tyre cooling, all of those things. But at the minute, we've just got to improve in most areas."
The competitive picture in Bahrain has been further complicated by the new 2026 regulations, which have drawn criticism from several drivers, most notably Max Verstappen. The Dutchman’s assertion that the new cars feel like "Formula E on steroids" sparked a media storm, to which Norris initially responded with a playful jab, suggesting Verstappen should retire if he wasn’t enjoying himself. However, Norris later clarified his position, admitting that he shares Verstappen’s skepticism about the direction Formula 1 is headed. "I just didn't want to come out into the media and complain to everyone on the first weekend back. I just wanted to say that and see what the reaction was of everyone. It's been quite an amusing week, and it certainly made a lot of people comment and say a lot of things," Norris said.
He continued, "I do agree with basically every other driver, because I think every other driver has made their comments pretty clear. I just didn't want to come out into the media and complain to everyone on the first weekend back. I want to still enjoy my time and just say what I feel. I had fun last week. I've still been having fun out there now. And I think we know as a championship with FIA and with Formula 1, we're trying to improve the car that we have now, because it's certainly not the purest form of racing, and that's what Formula 1 should be. A lot of the driving is focused on just trying to get the battery to work properly and less focused on how can you, as a driver, get everything out of the car."
Elsewhere in the paddock, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has set the early benchmark, posting the fastest lap time during the first morning of the final pre-season test. Mercedes’ rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli has also impressed, slotting in just behind Norris. Williams, Alpine, and Red Bull have all shown flashes of pace, while minor incidents—such as Nico Hulkenberg’s slide into the gravel and wild moments for Fernando Alonso and rookie Arvid Lindblad—have added to the drama of testing. Arvid Lindblad, notably, completed the most laps of the morning, demonstrating stamina and consistency in the Racing Bulls entry.
As the teams regroup and analyze the reams of data collected in Bahrain, the sense of anticipation is palpable. The season opener in Melbourne on March 8 promises to be a true test of who has best adapted to the new regulations. For Norris and McLaren, the path to defending their titles is clear but steep: improvements must be found, and fast. Yet, if Norris’ blend of realism and confidence is any indication, the reigning champions are far from ready to relinquish their grip on Formula 1’s top honors.
With just weeks to go before the lights go out in Australia, the Formula 1 world watches closely. Will Norris and McLaren rise to the challenge and engineer another championship run, or will the new era of regulations usher in a changing of the guard? For now, all eyes remain on the Woking squad as they dig deep in pursuit of pace, performance, and another shot at glory.