Lando Norris assesses McLaren’s struggles after Australian Grand Prix
Lando Norris has delivered a stark assessment of McLaren’s position following a deeply disappointing opening race of the 2026 Formula One campaign, reports BritPanorama.
The British driver crossed the line in fifth place at Melbourne, trailing race winner George Russell by 51.7 seconds and losing nearly a second per lap to the Mercedes driver. McLaren’s inability to compete with Mercedes and Ferrari under the sport’s new regulations was evident, as Russell took victory ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
“We’re a long way off, a long, long way off,” Norris admitted after the race. The reigning constructors’ champions found themselves unable to keep pace, with Norris acknowledging that their finishing position was reflective of their performance: “We finished where we deserved to,” he conceded.
McLaren’s troubles were compounded when Oscar Piastri crashed during reconnaissance laps due to an unexpected power surge. “A large element of just me, cold tires, the exit curb, I also had 100 kilowatts more power than I expected,” he explained, underscoring the multiple factors that contributed to the incident.
Norris faced significant pressure from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who recovered from 20th on the grid to challenge for fifth place. “Red Bull is clearly quicker, Max came from last and almost beat us,” Norris noted. Despite this narrow escape, it highlighted how far McLaren has fallen since their championship-winning days.
“This is nothing that is going to happen overnight, or one, or two weeks time,” Norris remarked, tempering expectations for an immediate turnaround. He finished almost a full lap behind the leaders, a stark reminder of the challenges ahead for the Woking-based team.
Looking to the future, Norris adopted a pragmatic approach regarding McLaren’s current struggles. “We have to learn from this part of the season, the more we learn, the more we understand, the better we’ll be at the end of the season,” he stated, finding some satisfaction in finishing fifth given the circumstances; a testament, perhaps, to the resilience required in the face of persistent challenges. As the season unfolds, the team will need to harness these lessons—a reminder of the intricate dance between ambition, reality, and the relentless pursuit of speed in Formula One.
