Image source: Getty Images
2026 FIA Formula One World Championship
2026 Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka Circuit
Suzuka City, Japan
Sunday, 29 March 2026
McLaren driver Lando Norris will be looking to put the disappointment of Shanghai behind him when Formula One heads to Japan for the third race of the season.
The reigning Constructors' champions had high hopes for 2026 following the implementation of the new technical regulations, but the MCL40 car is lagging behind Mercedes and Ferrari early on.
Norris, who is the defending champion, was well off the pace at the Australian Grand Prix as he finished 51.741 seconds behind race-winner George Russell in P5 after holding off the challenge of Max Verstappen.
The Englishman then had power unit issues prior to the Chinese Grand Prix and did not start, making it the first time since the 2005 United States Grand Prix that both McLarens were absent from the grid after Oscar Piastri also reported similar problems with his car.
Norris is hoping the team can make good use of the unexpected break after the Japanese Grand Prix to fast-track upgrades in order to get closer to their rivals.
"We understand that the car is not to the level that it needs to be to fight for a podium or even a win at the time being, so we know that we have a lot of work ahead," he said.
"Disregarding the issues that we had, the team knows where we stand, and we're very realistic about everything, so they're working hard, as they have been the whole season, but especially now, they know what direction we need to work to get back to what we think we can achieve.
"It is still a long season, and after Japan, there is a good little break coming up, so that's probably a good thing for us to try and figure things out, and it gives us a bit more time to maybe develop some things to see if we can get it on the car earlier.
"So, as much as it is not the start of the year that we want, I have a lot of confidence in the team that we can improve things, and we can fight for podiums at some point this year, and that we can fight for wins maybe later in the season. I want to believe that."
2026 Chinese Grand Prix results:
Winner: Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes
Second Place: George Russell - Mercedes
Third Place: Lewis Hamilton - Ferrari
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