Lando Norris has set his sights on a much closer Formula 1 battle with Andrea Kimi Antonelli in 2027 after defeating the newly crowned world champion at the Brazilian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver secured his third victory of the 2026 season at Interlagos, repeating his success from 12 months earlier and expressing hope that his on-track fight with the Mercedes youngster was a preview of what could follow next year.
It was a particularly interesting outcome for Formula 1’s two most recent world champions. The first Grand Prix since Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Drivers’ Championship was won by his predecessor, Lando Norris, who claimed the 2025 title. McLaren also appeared to have rediscovered some of its competitiveness and speed, although the unpredictable weather conditions may have worked in the team’s favour.
Lando Norris hopes battle with Kimi Antonelli previews 2027 F1 rivalry
Following his Brazilian Grand Prix victory, Lando Norris was asked whether his battle with Andrea Kimi Antonelli could be a preview of the fight between McLaren and Mercedes in 2027. The British driver welcomed the opportunity to compete directly against the new world champion but acknowledged that it was still too early to predict how next season would unfold.
“A preview of the battle in 2027? Well, it’s still early, but obviously I want to fight with everyone. I haven’t had many opportunities to fight with Kimi this year because he’s always been ahead and I’ve been a little further behind,” Norris told Sky Sports F1.
“But today we were able to battle a bit more, and it was a pleasure to fight on track against the new world champion.”
The Interlagos victory gave Norris an encouraging result after a season in which Mercedes and Antonelli have generally been ahead of McLaren. Having rarely enjoyed the opportunity to challenge the Italian directly, the British driver was pleased to demonstrate that he could still compete with the championship-winning team.
Lando Norris wants McLaren to challenge Mercedes in 2027
Despite the satisfaction of winning in Brazil, Norris is already looking towards the next Formula 1 season. His immediate priority remains finishing 2026 strongly, but he hopes McLaren can provide him with a car capable of challenging Mercedes and Antonelli more consistently in 2027.
“I want to finish the season well, and the whole team wants to end the year on a high. The objective is to finish this year strongly and then give me the opportunity to fight against Mercedes and Kimi next year.”
“Today was definitely enjoyable, but next year I want to give him a much harder time,” the McLaren driver concluded.
Norris’s third victory of the season offered encouragement for McLaren’s ambitions after a difficult campaign. The team’s improved performance at Interlagos provided an opportunity to fight at the front again, even if the unusual weather may have influenced the competitive order.
Whether the Brazilian Grand Prix proves to be an early indication of a closer McLaren-Mercedes rivalry remains uncertain. For Norris, however, the ambition is clear: build on the team’s latest victory, finish 2026 positively and return next season ready to challenge Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the world championship.
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