Winner of the Hungarian Grand Prix and current world champion, Lando Norris has strongly criticized the direction Formula 1 has taken under Liberty Media by leaving most of the show to business.
Read more Kimi Antonelli reveals why Mercedes abandoned its bold strategy in Hungary
His remarks go beyond the simple debate around the 2026 regulations and more broadly target the philosophy that now guides the championship.
“Today, all we think about is maximizing profits, and that is not how a sport should operate,” said the McLaren driver. “That is not how it should be run.”
“It’s no longer about sport”
Norris acknowledges that Formula 1 remains above all a business, but he believes the balance between economic imperatives and the sporting aspect has been broken: “Formula 1 is a business, and every business seeks to make money. But today, it’s no longer about how to make the sport as good as possible. The main goal is to make more and more money. That is not how a sport should be managed, and I find that regrettable.”
The Briton also believes that the arrival of new manufacturers, like Audi and Cadillac, has become a higher priority than the concerns expressed by the drivers: “They listen to us, but we cannot change the engines during the season, nor even with one or two years’ notice, because the goal is not to optimize the cars’ performance.”
“It’s a business matter,” he laments. “We have very little power and many decisions are made because the presence of Audi and other teams is considered a bigger win than satisfying the drivers.”
Read more Max Verstappen admits a hard truth despite his podium: «One of the toughest races of the year»
“Drivers should have the final say”
For Norris, those who drive the cars should play a much bigger role in the decisions shaping the future of the sport: “Drivers should always have the greatest decision-making power. It’s not because we are selfish, but because we know better than anyone what a motor race should be.”
The world champion believes their experience is essential: “We are best placed to know what motorsport should be, what it can become, what is possible and what is not. We simply want what is best for everyone, and today unfortunately that is not the case.”
Finally, Norris considers that the way fans follow Formula 1 has profoundly changed since the launch of the Drive to Survive documentary series on Netflix: “If you compare fans from five years ago, before Drive to Survive, they would probably find some current developments very bad.”
According to him, public attention has gradually shifted: “Today, fans are more interested in the personalities of the drivers and their individual performances than in the race itself. That’s simply how Formula 1 has evolved.”
Read more Lewis Hamilton questions Ferrari’s strategy: «I would never have stopped»