‘You get to 350 quicker than in previous years’ – Norris’s first impression of 2026 car

Lando Norris was struck by the improved acceleration of his new McLaren after driving the MCL40 for the first time yesterday.

Formula 1’s new regulations for 2026 allow teams to deploy more electrical energy from their power units, increasing acceleration. The cars also generate less downforce but can lower their wings in ‘straight mode’ to reduce drag.

Norris said the effect of the changes was noticeable in corners and straights. “It’s pretty different, it’s not a huge step, I think it’s a step slower in terms of cornering speeds,” he told the official F1 channel, “[but] in terms of acceleration and straight-line speed it probably feels quicker than it did last year. You get to 340, 350 quite a bit quicker than we did in previous years.

“It is a bit more of a challenge in many places, which is a good thing. But then you have a bit more to understand from the battery, the power unit.

“All of those things are in some ways more complicated and just different and whenever something’s different it always takes a bit of time to figure out the best way to look at it, to manage it, to use it.

“But that’s what these days are for. I think we got a good understanding today.”

F1 has made the biggest change to its rules since the V6 hybrid power units were introduced in 2014. But Norris said the new cars are not radically different to last year’s.

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“There’s different feelings of course, but it still feels like a McLaren,” he said. “It still feels powerful, it still feels like a Formula 1 car, which is the most important thing.”

The MCL40’s debut yesterday was also the first time the new world champion has run with the number ‘one’ on his car. “I saw it actually earlier on the timing screen and I still find it just unbelievable,” Norris admitted.

“It’s a crazy thing to see. Now is really the first time I get to see it on my suit, on the car, on timing screens, all of these things, and it looks good.

“It’s still a surreal feeling, the whole situation of being champion, but it doesn’t change anything apart from I’m at the top of the timing screen before we’ve even gone out, because I’m the lowest number now.”

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• Norris gives McLaren’s new MCL40 its debut in pre-season testing

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