Norris warns 2026 cars demand 'different ways' to extract pace

11:01, 01 Feb

byOlly Darcy

Lando Norris has stated that there are "going to be different ways" of "figuring out" how to get the most out of the 2026 cars.

"It's certainly one of the biggest changes I've had to get used to."

- Lando Norris

The upcoming campaign will see a huge overhaul of regulations, with DRS replaced by active aerodynamics, while new power units will see a 50-50 split between electrical power and the internal combustion engine.

Norris set the second fastest time during the final day of testing in Barcelona, two-tenths behind the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton, who set the fastest lap of the entire test.

After the week of testing, the 2025 World Champion explained how different it felt behind the wheel compared to the prior campaign.

Lando Norris sealed his maiden World Championship at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

"Every year, there's a certain amount of stuff that's different, and you have to get used to it," Norris said at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

"It's certainly one of the biggest changes I've had to get used to.

"Figuring it out, it still takes time, and this is just one track. Every track we're going to go to, there's going to be different ways of doing it, figuring it all out.

Norris 'happy' to be back behind the wheel

There were a few issues for McLaren during the first week of testing, with the 2025 constructors' champions forced to miss the afternoon session on Thursday due to a fuel system issue.

However, despite that, Norris believes his team collected more than enough valuable data to get to grips with the brand new machines in 2026.

"We understood the outlines of it, how things are going to work, so I'm happy," continued the Brit.

McLaren's 2026 machine - Photo: McLaren

"It's just nice to be back in a car, get that little feeling of the G-Force and all those things.

"It's nice to be back, and I'm already excited to have a couple of days off and look ahead to Bahrain."

The second winter test of 2026 will take place in Bahrain on February 11-13.

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