Lando Norris rebuts Lewis Hamilton’s engine theory
Lando Norris has issued a blunt response to Lewis Hamilton’s theory that his former team, Mercedes, possesses a hidden qualifying engine setting reminiscent of the infamous “party mode” from years past, reports BritPanorama.
The seven-time world champion pointed to what he perceives as a suspicious performance pattern, with the German manufacturer’s cars finding substantial pace gains between the opening and second qualifying segments.
However, speaking ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, the reigning world champion Lando Norris swiftly rejected Hamilton’s theory. The McLaren driver, whose team uses Mercedes power units, flatly denied any such mode exists and suggested his rival may be overthinking matters.
Speaking after the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend, Hamilton drew upon his lengthy tenure with the Silver Arrows to explain his suspicions. He said: “I was with Mercedes for a long, long time, so I know how it works there. In qualifying they have another mode that they’re able to go to, a bit like a ‘party mode’ back in the day, and once they get to Q2 they switch that on, and we don’t have that.” The Briton highlighted gaps of roughly a tenth in Q1, ballooning to seven tenths or half a second by Q2.
Norris, who claimed last year’s drivers’ championship with McLaren, offered a stark dismissal of Hamilton’s theory. “We don’t have that,” he declared when asked about the alleged qualifying mode. Pressed on whether Mercedes might retain such a technical advantage over customer teams, the young Briton was equally direct.
Norris said: “No. Sometimes when you’re a bit off you create things in your head.” Mercedes have established a commanding presence in qualifying throughout the 2026 campaign. The works team has measured performance in early sessions before unleashing significant speed when the stakes rise. This pattern echoes an era Hamilton knows intimately from his championship-winning years with the manufacturer.
Mercedes are currently dominating the standings after the first two races in Australia and China. The team has secured 98 points out of a possible 103, with both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli taking a Grand Prix victory each. Both Ferrari drivers, Leclerc and Hamilton, have been consistently on the podium. McLaren are struggling to match the top two’s pace.
The sharp exchanges between Norris and Hamilton reveal the undercurrents of competition and the scrutiny that defines Formula 1. In this high-stakes atmosphere, even the slightest speculation can stir debate, showcasing how the sport thrives on both brilliance and controversy.
