Norris cautious but confident as McLaren returns to Monaco as defending winners
Reigning World Champion Lando Norris returns to Monaco as last year’s race winner, but the McLaren driver is keeping expectations measured as the team prepares for one of the most demanding weekends of the season.
While McLaren’s 2025 run‑in to the Principality was stronger, Norris believes the team has earned the right to approach the event with genuine ambition — even if Ferrari and Mercedes currently appear to hold the upper hand.
Asked how confident he is of repeating last year’s victory, Norris offered a balanced assessment of McLaren’s prospects: “Well, I think our run into this weekend this time last year was probably a little bit better than we’ve had this year, so maybe not quite to the level it was last season.
"But I think we’re optimistic. We still want to come in with hopes of trying to achieve a pole and trying to achieve a win. That’s still the goals we want to set ourselves.”
He was quick to acknowledge the strength of McLaren’s rivals, particularly Mercedes, whose recent form has shifted the competitive picture.
“But Ferrari and Mercedes have obviously been very strong, Mercedes even more so, so we’re getting ahead of ourselves. We don’t want to be too optimistic, but at the same time we want to come into our weekends at the minute, I think we’ve given ourselves the chance to come into weekends with the belief that it is possible. That’s the way we want to stay for now.”
The question of whether Monaco’s unique characteristics will suit the MCL40 is harder to answer. Norris pointed to encouraging signs from Montreal — a similarly low‑grip, low‑speed circuit — but also noted that McLaren’s overall performance profile in 2026 has been less consistent than last year’s.
“It’s just so tough to say. I think, you know, we were closer to pole this year in Montreal than we were last time in Montreal, when we had a more dominant car.
"We went on to win in a similar characteristic of track – slow speeds, low grip track – that we have here. So, you know, when you just think of those things, it kind of gives us confidence.”
“When you think of various other things, like just our general performance this year, less so. But we also know where we stand comparing to the other cars, where they’re fast, where they’re not.”
Norris also highlighted Ferrari’s aerodynamic philosophy — high downforce, high drag — as a factor that could make the Scuderia particularly dangerous around the tight streets of Monaco.
“It’s true that the Ferraris are not the quickest on the straights, but that’s also because they have a lot of downforce and a lot of drag, so it’s kind of their own punishment they give themselves, which gives them some advantage. That advantage will definitely show this weekend.”
