In the first two races of the 2026 Formula 1 season, McLaren has shown itself to be the third-strongest team on the grid overall, though not quite on the pace of Ferrari, who demonstrated a particularly strong race pace from the very start of the year. At McLaren’s Woking base, the deficits are evident both in chassis performance and in understanding the Mercedes Power Unit. However, in the press conference opening the Japanese Grand Prix weekend at Suzuka, Lando Norris expressed optimism that the team can gradually close the gap to the leaders.
China low point for McLaren: “The hardest part was that it was out of our control”
The Chinese Grand Prix marked a significant low for McLaren, as neither car was able to start the race. On Thursday at Suzuka, Norris addressed the reliability issues that had plagued the team. He explained, “It took a little time to understand, obviously it hurt us as a team. Having two cars unable to start a race was certainly not helpful. What hurt the most was that it was out of our control.” What has traditionally been a strength for their sister team Mercedes was instead a weak point for McLaren. “We’ve worked hard with HPP to understand how it happened and why. We will do everything possible to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Nobody wants a weekend like that, especially not to start a Sunday. So yes, it was very frustrating, but at the same time, it’s a good opportunity to learn, take a step back, and move forward into this weekend.”
Closing the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari: “I trust we can get back to having the best car”
For McLaren, the challenge extends beyond mastering the new Mercedes Power Unit to improving the overall performance of the MCL40 chassis, where gaps have also appeared. Norris expressed confidence, emphasizing that he would not trade his current position for past successes. “The car has a lot of potential,” the British driver said. “We’re certainly not where we wanted to be, but the real question is: would I rather be here having won last year, or have a slightly better car now and not have won last year? I think the answer is clear. You can’t have the best of everything.” According to Norris, the gap to the two front-running teams is not insurmountable. “Now is the perfect time to show exactly what we can do as a team, against Ferrari and Mercedes. Everyone at the factory is working very hard and there’s good progress. It takes time to improve. We are still the third team at the moment. We have plans in place, and as I said, everyone is working hard, so we’re ambitious to get back to the top.”
Learning from the past: McLaren’s growth curve
Although the gap is significant, McLaren can rely on a long mid-season break following the Japanese Grand Prix and the natural development curve of new cars. “I don’t remember exactly how many points behind we were in 2024 compared to Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari, but I think it was more than 150 points or so, and we still managed to fight back and win the Constructors’ Championship.” Norris stressed that progress must come step by step. “First, we focus on getting back on the podium, and then on winning races again,” he told the media. “The points will sort themselves out. As a team, we believe in ourselves. We’ve won two Constructors’ Championships in a row, and the Drivers’ Championship last year, because we built the best car on the grid. We are confident we can do it again. It takes time and patience, but I trust the team and believe we can get back to having the best car this year.”
Energy management at Suzuka: “Less spectacular, but still a fantastic circuit to drive”
One of the key questions heading into Suzuka is how drivers will manage energy, which could be a critical factor on a circuit known for its high-speed corners. Norris explained, “I don’t think Suzuka can be ruined. It will still be incredible to drive, even if some sections are less spectacular.” Reflecting on on-track battles, he added, “In China it was exciting to see the duel between the two Ferrari drivers, but part of that battle was simply due to battery management. The driver who is overtaken is a passenger and can’t do anything. The FIA is working to improve this and I think they will over time.”
For the Suzuka weekend, a change has been implemented. The FIA has officially modified energy usage rules for qualifying, reducing the per-lap recharge limit from 9MJ to 8MJ. The goal is to reduce excessive lift-and-coast and superclipping on a flying lap. “I think drivers still want to drive at the limit,” Norris explained. “In many cases, you overtake and then get passed again at 60 km/h faster; it feels like you’ve done something, but then you’re at the mercy of the battery. These are frustrating and difficult situations to manage in the car. At the same time, I think there is potential in what we have. It just needs adjustments and tweaks. The more circuits we visit during the season, the more we learn, the FIA learns, and things can improve. We have much more power than last year, but it disappears too quickly, so the problem is not having the battery when you need it.”
Lando Norris is therefore viewing the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix as a pivotal recovery opportunity for McLaren. Based on the content of his technical feedback, the focus at Woking is moving beyond the “out of control” failures of China toward a long-term chassis and PU optimization.
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