George Russell reacts to Lando Norris’s criticism of the new Formula 1 cars. The reigning world champion labeled the 2026 challengers as ‘probably the worst F1 cars’ ever, after he failed to get further than sixth on the grid in qualifying for the Australian GP. Brand new race winner Russell states a day later: ‘If he had been on the winning side, I don’t think he would say that’.
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Lando Norris was already unhappy with the brand-new Formula 1 cars on Saturday in Melbourne. “We have gone from the best cars ever made in Formula 1 to probably the worst,” the McLaren driver concluded after qualifying, when he could get no further than sixth on the grid. A day later, after a battle with Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion could only move up one spot.
George Russell was asked about Norris’s comments after his victory in Melbourne. “If he had been on the winning side, I don’t think he would say that,” Russell told the media present in Australia. “We weren’t happy with how stiff the cars were last year and about the porpoising. Everyone’s back hurt and the drivers complained about it. The McLaren drivers said they didn’t have porpoising, but we certainly saw it in their cars. So everyone always looks at themselves and in that respect we are all selfish.”
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‘Must give new rules a chance’
According to Russell, it’s simple. “The truth is that last year we had the same engine as them and McLaren did better and beat us. Now McLaren has the same engine as us, the same as Williams and the same as Alpine, and so far we have done better than them,” the British brand-new Grand Prix winner continues. “That’s just how it goes in this sport.” The Mercedes driver therefore calls on his fellow drivers to give the new rules a bit more time before passing judgment. “Everyone is very quick to criticize, you have to give it a chance,” Russell concludes.
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Read everything about the Australian GP here
