Lando Norris Warns McLaren Still Lacks Complete Package for F1 Title Fight

Posted : 24 August 2026

Lando Norris has warned that McLaren still needs to address key weaknesses in its car if he is to mount a serious challenge for the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship, despite winning back-to-back races.

The reigning world champion followed his victory in Hungary with another impressive triumph at the final Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort on Sunday. Norris recovered the lead from championship leader Kimi Antonelli and controlled the closing stages to secure McLaren’s third consecutive Dutch GP victory.

The result has reignited speculation about a late championship charge. Norris is now fourth in the drivers’ standings, but remains 83 points behind Antonelli, who extended his advantage with a second-place finish. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are tied for third, 59 points behind the Mercedes leader.

Despite his recent form, Norris believes McLaren’s car is not yet consistent enough across different types of circuits. He highlighted the team’s considerable strength through high-speed corners but pointed to a significant deficit in slower sections.

That weakness could become particularly important at upcoming races such as Monza, where long straights and slower corners are expected to expose some of McLaren’s limitations. Norris therefore remains cautious about his title prospects, even after securing consecutive poles and victories.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, however, believes Norris is performing at the level required of a world champion. Stella praised the Briton’s continued development, particularly his ability to understand the car, communicate problems to the team and adapt his driving to difficult conditions.

Norris has also pointed to improvements in his own approach compared with last season. He believes he has become better at identifying weaknesses, understanding the behaviour of the car and working with his engineers to find solutions.

McLaren's recent resurgence has coincided with Mercedes losing some of its early-season advantage. Antonelli acknowledged after Zandvoort that Mercedes no longer has the fastest car, with McLaren making a substantial improvement through its recent upgrades.

Even with the improved performance, Norris insists he is concentrating on one race at a time. With plenty of opportunities remaining in the season, the McLaren driver knows further development will be essential if he is to close the gap and defend his championship.

Lando Norris Warns McLaren Still Lacks Complete Package for F1 Title Fight

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