Lando Norris Says McLaren Is Months Behind Rivals

Lando Norris believes McLaren is currently two to three months behind its main Formula 1 rivals in terms of car development.

The 2026 season has proved challenging for Norris, who has collected only two podium finishes from the opening seven rounds alongside two retirements and one DNS. Although he claimed victory in the Miami Sprint, McLaren has struggled to maintain consistent competitiveness across full race weekends.

After establishing a reputation for delivering highly effective upgrades over recent seasons, McLaren's development programme has not produced the same results in 2026. Several new components introduced during the season have either been removed or not used following track evaluations.

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"I want a good upgrade, but we probably need three, four, or five. We're certainly like two or three months behind. That's not one upgrade, that's a lot of bits. I don't think we're going to be quick anytime soon, but hopefully over the next three, four or five months we can catch up and close the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari," said Norris.

Norris stressed that closing the deficit will require a major effort across the entire organisation. However, he said everyone at McLaren remains motivated because they believe the MCL40 still has significant development potential.

With Mercedes and Ferrari currently setting the benchmark, McLaren hopes its upcoming upgrade programme will gradually restore its competitiveness. Norris believes sustained development will be essential if the team is to return to fighting consistently at the front.