British racing driver Lando Norris has emphatically stated that defending his maiden Formula One world championship is his primary objective for the forthcoming season. The McLaren star clinched his first F1 crown in a dramatic Abu Dhabi finale last December, outmanoeuvring Red Bull's four-time champion Max Verstappen and his own team-mate, Oscar Piastri, to secure the title.
A Newfound Confidence After Championship Success
Speaking at the Autosport Awards in London, where he was honoured as the British Competition Driver of the Year, Norris opened up about the psychological transformation following his historic victory. "It is absolutely the goal. When you win one, it certainly gives you a lot more confidence," the 26-year-old declared. He candidly addressed his previous struggles with self-belief, noting, "I have never been one to have the most confidence in myself but I certainly have more of it now, that's for sure."
Norris described himself as a pragmatic individual who requires tangible proof of success to fully believe in his capabilities. "I have always been a seeing-is-believing kind of guy and I have always had to see myself on the top step and see myself winning to finally believe that I can do it," he explained. The pivotal moment arrived midway through the 2025 season when he realised he possessed all the necessary components for championship glory.
The Turning Point: Mid-Season Realisation
"By the middle of last season, I felt I had all the necessary elements – the people around me, the team, the car, and my own ability – to go out and win the championship," Norris revealed. "That's the first time I have had that belief in myself and it turned out to be the correct thing to have." This profound self-assurance marked a significant departure from his earlier career mindset and proved instrumental in his title triumph.
Despite his monumental achievement, Norris admitted he has deliberately avoided revisiting the moment he secured the championship. "No I have not. I have honestly tried to be as far from everything as possible and just enjoying the rest of my life," he confessed, highlighting his commitment to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Balancing Professional Demands with Personal Fulfilment
The Bristol-born driver elaborated on his philosophy of embracing life beyond the racetrack. "I love Formula One, I also love being away from it. It is an incredible job, I get paid well, and I get to travel with my friends and play golf in beautiful places and I like to go and do those other things," Norris stated. "You have one life and I want to try, and enjoy, as many things as possible." This balanced approach underscores his determination to sustain peak performance while nurturing personal wellbeing.
McLaren's Testing Strategy Amid Regulatory Overhaul
As the sport undergoes one of its most substantial regulatory transformations in recent memory, with simultaneous changes to chassis, power unit, and tyre specifications, Norris prepares for his first experience of the 2026 car. He is scheduled to participate in a behind-closed-doors test in Barcelona next week, commencing on Monday. However, McLaren will adopt a strategic approach to the testing schedule.
Team principal Andrea Stella clarified the rationale behind their planned absence from the first of five testing days. "We plan to start testing either on day two or day three. We wanted to give ourselves as much time as possible for development and this was always going to be plan A," Stella explained. He emphasised the unprecedented scale of development work required for the 2026 vehicles, noting the significant challenges posed by the comprehensive technical revisions.
The Road to Melbourne: Pre-Season Preparations
Following the Barcelona session, two additional pre-season tests are scheduled in Bahrain next month, providing crucial preparation ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 8. These sessions will offer vital insights into each team's competitiveness following the regulatory shake-up, with McLaren aiming to build upon their dominant 2025 performance.
Norris's journey from a driver grappling with self-doubt to a reigning world champion exemplifies remarkable personal and professional growth. His candid reflections on confidence, combined with McLaren's meticulous testing strategy, set the stage for an intriguing championship defence as Formula One enters a new era of technical regulations.
