Lando Norris still 'trying to accept' F1 'reality'

Lando Norris has admitted he is still attempting to come to terms with his championship success from last year.

Norris clinched his maiden F1 title at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, triumphing over Max Verstappen by just two points.

The Briton got his 2026 campaign up and running on Wednesday as he gave the MCL40 - McLaren's car for the upcoming season - its on-track debut in Barcelona.

Norris noted the car feels “pretty different” compared to its predecessor, having been built as part of a brand new set of technical regulations.

As he gets back into the swing of routine, Norris admitted he would have liked a long winter break after winning the title.

“I’m excited for everything,” he said. “I wish I had one more month to lay back and enjoy everything, take everything in.

“It was a few weeks off. It didn't even feel like a month off. It was a few weeks off of just trying to realise what had happened last year.

“It had become a reality, my dream. I'm still, even now, trying to just accept it and realise that it's happened.”

However, Norris asserted he is focused on the season ahead as he looks to become only the third McLaren driver to successfully defend their title.

“But at the same time, it’s back to work and now we've got to try and do it all over again,” he said.

“So it makes me happy, it gives me good confidence coming into this season. But it's so different, such a big challenge with all the regulations, all the changes this year.

“But I feel good. I'm happy I've accomplished something huge in my life.”