McLaren dominated Formula 1 last year, but the pecking order could be different in 2026 – Norris would accept it if “others do a better job.”
McLaren was the team to beat in the last Formula 1 season and was only occasionally beaten by Max Verstappen in the Red Bull in the second half of the season. However, with the new Formula 1 regulations coming into force in 2026, this ranking could change significantly.
Defending his title is by no means a foregone conclusion for world champion Lando Norris. Suddenly, all teams could be in contention for the world championship crown, provided they come up with a clever idea over the winter—like the controversial double diffuser that surprisingly brought Jenson Button and Brawn GP the title in 2009. “There’s always this aspect of watching other teams—it’s just part of the sport: You look at what other great minds have come up with, what ideas they’ve developed, how you can learn from them, incorporate them or avoid them, whatever,“ Norris explains in an interview with F1 TV. ”You always have to be willing to accept that sometimes others can do a better job, and you want to learn from them. I’m happy with the team’s performance and everything we’ve done so far this year. But yes, it’s going to be a long year, so we’ll keep working hard, make sure everyone is happy, and then move on.”
Will Aston Martin be the big surprise in 2026?
One team that many observers are keeping an eye on and that could suddenly be in contention for the top spot is Aston Martin. Although the team only finished seventh last year, technical genius Adrian Newey is now team principal, and the car unveiled in Barcelona has already caused a stir, particularly because of its suspension and engine cover.
It is therefore quite possible that Newey, together with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and the new Honda engine, could challenge the four best teams of last season, namely McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari.
“The best scenario for the sport and also for the drivers is to have several different drivers and teams fighting each other,” emphasizes Mercedes driver George Russell. “I think at the moment it looks like Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, and us are the four teams that are quite close together.”
Russell: It’s not about looks, it’s about speed
“But you can’t ignore what you’ve seen from Aston Martin and what Adrian [Newey] has done with that car. It looks pretty spectacular, and Honda has delivered a very good engine with Red Bull in recent years.“
”The Aston Martin probably stood out the most in terms of design,“ Russell said. ”I think everyone was looking at the rear suspension, and it looks really impressive visually. But it’s not about how sexy it looks.”
“It’s about how fast it is on the track. So you always look at the fastest car, and we’ll find that out in Melbourne. Whoever that is, that’s the car you want to be inspired by.”
