Lando Norris has warned Mercedes how easily an F1 title bid can nearly go wrong, remembering two key instances in 2025.
Last term, Norris and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri appeared to be locked in an exclusive fight for the drivers' title, but McLaren nearly lost to the fast-charging Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
In Las Vegas, both drivers were disqualified for plank wear, and then in the penultimate race, a strategy blunder in Qatar meant neither driver pitted on Lap 7 when the rest of the field did in a race where Pirelli imposed maximum stint lengths of 25 laps.
This meant the field that stopped on Lap 7 could again on Lap 32 and then finish on Lap 57, with McLaren badly off sequence as Piastri finished second and Norris fourth. This set up a three-way title shootout for the first time since four drivers were involved in 2010, with Norris hanging on by just two points to claim his maiden crown.
In 2026, the reigning champion is looking resurgent after upgrades to his MCL40 machine have allowed him to win the last two races, bringing him back into title contention.
Points leader Kimi Antonelli is on 242, with Norris 83 behind on 159, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton tied for second on 183, 59 behind Antonelli.
Looking ahead, Norris dropped a subtle warning to Mercedes that things can easily and quickly go awry.
"Obviously, we were on the not-so-good end of it last year, but there’s no point thinking about it," Norris told media, including RacingNews365 if he could do to Antonelli what Verstappen almost did to him in 2025.
"I honestly don’t care what I’m doing next weekend or the weekend after. It’s nice to know that it’s a possibility, and of course I’m hoping both Mercedes get a double DSQ in Vegas like we did and decide not to box in Qatar for a free pit stop.
"So as long as they make the same mistakes, it’ll probably be just as easy. But yeah, every year is different.
"I mean, for me, we’re still trying to play catch-up with certain things, but I’m getting everything out of it for now, and that’s all I can be pleased about.
"So, I’m happy. It’s still a very long way to go. I’m optimistic; I still believe that it’s possible, and that’s all I need for now."
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