Lando Norris had exactly one day to celebrate his championship victory. The Brit secured the world title on Sunday during the final race in Abu Dhabi, but was back at Yas Marina on Tuesday for the post-season tests. In a so-called mule car, he tested the new Pirelli tires for 2026. The newly crowned world champion did this in style: Norris brought out a golden helmet for the occasion.
During the post-season test, both regular drivers and rookies take part. For instance, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri share an MCL39, while rookie Pato O’Ward gets his own car. While the Mexican drives regular practice laps, the regular line-up tests the new Pirelli tires for 2026. The new compounds will be narrower at both the front and the back than in previous years. The differences are particularly noticeable at the front.
Norris seized the opportunity to celebrate his newly won title and appeared this morning with a golden helmet. The design has remained the same, although he has swapped the lime green color scheme for a gilded look. Whether Norris will take the golden helmet into the new season is not yet known. However, he has confirmed that he will be racing with number 1 next year, an honor reserved only for the reigning world champion.
Who will participate in the post-season test?
| Team | Pirelli Tire Test | Rookie Test |
|---|---|---|
| McLaren | Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri | Pato O’Ward |
| Mercedes | Kimi Antonelli | Frederik Vesti |
| Red Bull | Isack Hadjar | Ayumu Iwasa |
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton | Dino Beganovic |
| Williams | Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon | Luke Browning |
| Racing Bulls | Liam Lawson | Arvid Lindblad |
| Aston Martin | Stoffel Vandoorne | Jak Crawford |
| Haas | Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman | Ryo Hirakawa |
| Stake | Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg | Paul Aron |
| Alpine | Pierre Gasly | Kush Maini |
