Lando Norris expects to battle teammate Oscar Piastri again in 2026. The two fought for the world title until the Abu Dhabi GP last season. Norris ultimately came out on top, but according to the Briton, it is only a matter of time before his teammate takes the title. ‘I expect him to make my life hell,’ the McLaren driver looks ahead.
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Lando Norris is on the eve of the 2026 season as the reigning world champion. It is the first time the Briton starts a new Formula 1 year as the defending champion, although with the brand-new regulations in effect from this year, it remains to be seen how competitive his McLaren team will be. In addition, he will also have to take McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri into account, who missed out on the title in Abu Dhabi due to a thirteen-point deficit in the World Championship.
Norris expects the relationship with his Australian teammate to remain the same in 2026. “Oscar will continue to answer as he always does: by not talking too much and just getting to work,” the Briton says, according to Somerset Live. “Everyone knows what he is capable of. He will show exactly what he did last year, which is that he is an incredible driver who can become world champion. I expect him to make my life hell.”
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‘Am in F1 to win the championship’
Piastri led the drivers’ championship from the Saudi Arabian GP until the Mexican GP in 2025. Eventually, Max Verstappen also passed him. The Australian finished in third place with a difference of eleven points. “I’m not just in Formula 1 to be known as a ‘nice person’ or someone who does things in a way that people like,” Piastri explains. “I’m here to try and become world champion, but I’m very proud of the way I’ve handled it.”
“There are many lessons to be learned from last year and yes, the end was a bit painful, but you can deal with that in two ways,” the Australian continues. “Either you let it discourage you, or you use it to gain more confidence and motivation for the future. And with completely different regulations this year, that has been a good way to channel the motivation I gained during the winter break.”
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View the 2026 F1 calendar here
