Lando Norris believes driving McLaren’s MCL-HY Hypercar can genuinely help him improve as a Formula 1 driver, with his recent Portimão test exposing him to different driving techniques, setup possibilities and electronic systems that he can learn from and potentially apply to his main programme.
The reigning Formula 1 world champion recently completed a full test with the McLaren prototype at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, sampling the car that the British team will race in the World Endurance Championship from next season. For Lando Norris, the experience was primarily an opportunity to enjoy something different, but it quickly became a useful learning exercise as well.
Lando Norris explains what he learned from McLaren MCL-HY test
Formula 1 drivers have become increasingly interested in competing or testing outside their usual category. Max Verstappen has been one of the most prominent examples among the current generation, while experienced drivers such as Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg have long histories in other disciplines.
Lando Norris has now followed a similar path by spending time in the MCL-HY, McLaren’s new endurance prototype. His Portimão outing followed the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid and gave him a more extensive opportunity to experience the car after previously sampling it in a shorter demonstration run.
GP-News previously covered Lando Norris’ 38-lap MCL-HY test at Portimão, where the Formula 1 champion worked alongside McLaren’s endurance programme as development of the 2027 car continues.
Speaking ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, Lando Norris explained that he arrived without particularly ambitious expectations.
“I didn’t go there with big expectations. I was simply looking forward to going there, having some fun and driving a new car. I’m a racing enthusiast, so I enjoy driving anything.”
McLaren Hypercar offers more setup freedom than current F1 cars
One of the biggest differences Lando Norris noticed was the amount of freedom engineers have to change the behaviour of the MCL-HY compared with the highly regulated environment of modern Formula 1.
That applies not only to the mechanical setup, but also to the parameters and electronic systems that can be adjusted to influence how the prototype behaves.
“I think the level of detail they work at is really crazy. And in some situations they have much more freedom to do certain things with the car than we are allowed to do in Formula 1.”
“As much as people might think that in Formula 1 you can do whatever you want, that isn’t really the case.”
The comparison particularly interested Lando Norris because Formula 1’s technical rules place strict limits on many areas teams can modify, whereas the endurance prototype gave the McLaren engineers different options for tailoring its systems.
“Even in terms of how you can change the different systems and fine-tune the car, you actually have a lot more scope with the Hypercar, especially with the electronics and all those aspects.”
“It’s really interesting to see what you can do. It’s a little bit more like old Formula 1, when there was much more freedom in terms of what you could do, and that is a positive thing.”
Norris adapts to heavier car with less downforce
The MCL-HY naturally offered a very different driving experience from the McLaren Formula 1 car. The endurance prototype carries considerably more mass and generates less aerodynamic load, requiring Lando Norris to adapt his braking, corner entry and overall approach.
“Obviously, it’s a very different car. It’s quite a heavy car, so you have to adapt to that, and clearly there is also a lot less downforce.”
“But it still feels like a fast car, so it’s still exciting. For me, again, it was mainly about trying something new and also learning. Everything I do, even when I drive other cars, is always aimed at learning something.”
That willingness to experiment fits into the wider development of Lando Norris as a driver. The Briton has already spoken during 2026 about becoming more comfortable extracting performance from difficult machinery, and McLaren’s recent progress has allowed him to challenge Mercedes more consistently at the front.
Lando Norris believes different cars can make him a better F1 driver
The most valuable part of the test was not necessarily a specific lap time or development item. Instead, Lando Norris focused on understanding alternative driving styles and learning from the endurance specialists working around him.
“Understanding different driving styles, learning from the other drivers I met there and seeing what I can take away from it to help me drive better this weekend. It’s always a good opportunity, especially while staying within the McLaren family.”
For Lando Norris, exposing himself to another type of racing car can provide ideas that would be difficult to investigate within Formula 1’s tightly controlled technical environment.
“It helps me learn and be more focused on doing my real job, which is Formula 1. A large part of all this is also about allowing me to try different things.”
“There are things I can experiment with in a different car that can help me in Formula 1. My focus is still entirely on F1 and it always will be.”
Formula 1 remains Norris’ clear priority
Despite his enthusiasm for the MCL-HY, Lando Norris has repeatedly made clear that the test should not be interpreted as evidence that he is preparing to shift his attention away from Formula 1.
His principal objective remains succeeding with McLaren in F1, where the team has continued introducing developments as it attempts to challenge Mercedes more consistently. That work continues in Azerbaijan, with a significant MCL40 upgrade arriving in Baku.
Lando Norris therefore views outings in other machinery as complementary to his Formula 1 career rather than a distraction from it. Different levels of downforce, greater mass, alternative electronics and new setup possibilities all force a driver to rethink familiar techniques.
That is precisely where Norris sees the value. The MCL-HY may be designed for endurance racing rather than Grand Prix competition, but the process of adapting to it, working with different engineers and comparing driving methods can still provide lessons that matter when he climbs back into a Formula 1 car.
After a Madrid weekend in which McLaren demonstrated strong race pace but lost a possible victory through the timing of the Virtual Safety Car, Lando Norris now returns to his primary job with another set of experiences behind him. For the world champion, testing something different is worthwhile as long as there is something useful to bring back to Formula 1.
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