Lando Norris finished just off the podium in the Shanghai Sprint Race, crossing the line in fourth place. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton demonstrated a pace clearly superior to McLaren, finishing ahead of Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri.
Reflecting on the result, Norris admitted: “Ferrari is simply faster than us, it’s that simple. We have the best engine, while they have the better overall car. We know there’s a lot to work on, and we’re already working on it.”
Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, finished in sixth, struggling more than his teammate. When asked about the double overtake by the two Ferrari drivers, he shared Norris’s view: “I think Ferrari didn’t fully exploit their potential in qualifying yesterday, so it wasn’t a surprise to see them ahead. They have more race pace than us, and we know it well.”
The honesty from the McLaren camp underscores a fascinating technical divide in the 2026 regulations. By admitting that Ferrari has the “better car overall” despite McLaren wielding the class-leading Mercedes engine, Lando Norris has highlighted that the 2026 championship won’t just be an engine formula, but a battle of aerodynamic packaging and mechanical grip. As the season progresses, the pressure will be on Woking to bring floor and wing updates that can match the SF-26’s stability in “dirty air,” a trait that allowed Leclerc and Hamilton to breeze past the McLarens during the Sprint. If they can’t close this gap soon, McLaren risks being stuck in a “no man’s land” between the dominant Mercedes and a surging Ferrari squad.
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