Lando Norris details new McLaren 'goal' as pecking order verdict made

Lando Norris has outlined McLaren's primary “goal” for the season ahead as it looks to defend both of its championships.

Norris enters the year after clinching the drivers' championship in Abu Dhabi last December, but faces a fresh challenge as a technical regulation overhaul comes into play.

McLaren enjoyed a respectable pre-season test, and a general consensus has emerged, with the traditional top four teams expected to remain as the front-runners.

But should McLaren be as low as fourth in the order this weekend, Norris denied the team should consider the situation in a negative light. 

“I have good confidence in the team no matter what,” Norris told media including RacingNews365.

“I don't think we're starting on the back foot. Even if you're second, third or fourth, quickest, I don't think that's on the back foot. 

“That's still a very good position to start in. In previous years, when it's been harder to improve over the course of a season, we've certainly proved that you could.”

Norris' reference to improvements in the past stems from the squad's dramatic turnaround in 2023, which saw it develop from backmarkers to regular podium scorers.

He is also taking confidence from his title-winning journey in 2025, as a wave of consistency in the final term of the campaign saw him emerge with the championship in hand.

“It's a very long season,” he said. “One of the big learning things from last year is to not get too frustrated. 

“One bad race, two bad races, a bad beginning of the year, it can always come back your way as long as you keep working hard. 

“I have very good faith in the team that they can, if we don't start in the best way possible, continue to work as efficiently as possible to bring upgrades, to bring big things later on through the season, to help turn things around. 

“Even if we start in a good form, I still expect us to continue to improve a lot through the course of the season. 

“That's certainly the goal. We're certainly not led by our results this weekend or the first few We've got races of the year.”