Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris believes McLaren can capitalize on a potential intra-team battle at Mercedes to mount another championship challenge in 2026. The McLaren driver is hopeful that the fight between George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli will create opportunities for him to close the gap in this season’s title race.
Mercedes has dominated the opening rounds of the 2026 season, with Russell claiming victory in the season opener at Melbourne before Antonelli secured his first two Grand Prix wins in China and Japan. The Italian rookie now leads the drivers’ standings, while Mercedes holds a commanding position atop the constructors’ championship table.
Speaking at McLaren’s MTC facility, Norris drew parallels to last season’s championship battle, where McLaren’s decision to let both him and teammate Oscar Piastri race on equal terms ultimately allowed Max Verstappen back into contention. Despite McLaren successfully defending the constructors’ title, Norris only secured his first drivers’ championship by a mere two-point margin over Verstappen, with Piastri finishing third.
“Let’s hope so,” Norris said when asked about Mercedes’ potential internal rivalry. “Certainly, the more that they can battle, the better. We know we were a little bit on the back foot at the beginning of the season. We certainly hope that we can catch up, and the more points they can take away from each other, the better – the same like us last year and Max in a fight.”
The 2025 champion praised Antonelli’s rapid development in his second F1 season, noting the young Italian’s ability to match Russell’s pace convincingly. With McLaren showing promising improvements at Suzuka, Norris remains optimistic about closing the gap as the season progresses, particularly if Mercedes continues to allow their drivers to race freely against each other.