McLaren’s Lando Norris has outlined his vision for improving Formula 1’s racing spectacle, advocating for a return to go-karting fundamentals to create better wheel-to-wheel competition. The reigning world champion believes F1 should prioritize closer following capabilities and reduced car weight over the current technology-heavy approach that relies on battery management and active aerodynamics.
Norris has been among the most vocal critics of F1’s 2026 technical regulations, which feature a controversial 50-50 power split between internal combustion engines and 350kW electric batteries. While the FIA has implemented some immediate changes for the current season with more substantial modifications planned for 2027, the McLaren driver argues the sport needs more fundamental reforms to improve racing quality.
Speaking to media including RacingNews365, Norris explained his philosophy: “Having good racing is not necessarily having someone at 100% battery and having someone on zero; that’s not how proper racing should be done. It should be done by trying to allow cars to follow closer, have less weight, better tyres and be more resilient to following, not by implementing your batteries and wings to do all the stuff that we’re doing now.”
The current regulations were designed partly to attract new manufacturers to F1, successfully bringing Audi and Honda into works programs while General Motors develops its own power unit for 2029 and Ford partners with Red Bull Powertrains. However, Norris believes this business-focused approach has compromised the racing product, creating what he describes as “yo-yo racing” dependent on energy management rather than pure driving skill.
Drawing inspiration from karting, Norris envisions a future where F1 cars can follow closely without aerodynamic disruption: “We can create even better racing, like in go-karting, you have no dirty air, you have no downforce, that is the purest racing you can get. We want it to be more like go-karting in those early days where you can follow on the bumper, you’re slipstreaming and have 22 cars in a big long line.”
Despite his criticisms, Norris acknowledged the complexity of balancing sporting and commercial interests in modern F1, expressing optimism that improvements will come over the next five years. He praised the FIA’s efforts to address current issues while emphasizing that better racing for drivers would ultimately benefit fans as well.