Lando Norris expects to be battling his team-mate Oscar Piastri again in 2026. The two went head-to-head last season all the way to the Abu Dhabi GP for the world title. Norris ultimately came out on top, but the Brit says it’s only a matter of time before his team-mate takes the crown. “I expect he’ll make my life hell,” the McLaren driver already warns.
Lando Norris stands on the eve of the 2026 season as the reigning world champion. It’s the first time the Brit begins a new Formula 1 year as title-defender, although with the brand-new regulations coming into force this year it remains to be seen how competitive his team McLaren will be. He will also have to account for McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, who missed out on the title in Abu Dhabi by a 13-point deficit.
Norris expects the dynamic with his Australian team-mate to remain unchanged in 2026. “Oscar will continue to answer how he always does: by not talking too much and just getting on with it,” the Brit told Somerset Live. “Everyone knows what he’s capable of. He’ll show exactly what he did last year — that he’s an incredible driver who can become world champion. I expect he’ll make my life hell.”
‘I’m in F1 to win the championship’
Piastri led the drivers’ standings in 2025 from the Saudi Arabian GP through the Mexican GP. Ultimately Max Verstappen overtook him. The Australian finished third, eleven points adrift. “I’m not in Formula 1 just to be known as a ‘nice person’ or someone who does things in a way people find agreeable,” Piastri explains. “I’m here to try to become world champion, but I’m very proud of the way I went about it.”
“There are plenty of lessons to take from last year and yes, the ending was a bit painful, but you can handle that in two ways,” the Australian continues. “You either let it discourage you, or you use it to build more confidence and motivation for the future. And with a very different set of regulations this year, it’s been a good way to channel the motivation I picked up over the winter break.”
