Lando Norris says he has had to change his driving style almost every year and considers adaptation an essential quality in F1.
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The new cars introduced in 2026 forced several drivers to review some of their habits. George Russell notably admitted that his natural driving style did not work as well with this generation of cars, which forced him to look for new solutions.
For Lando Norris, this need to adapt is nothing exceptional. The reigning world champion says he has faced this issue throughout almost his entire career, especially since his arrival in Formula 1.
The Briton even believes that being able to deeply change his driving style is simply part of the job.
Norris has constantly had to review his driving style
Formula 1 has changed profoundly this season with the introduction of new aerodynamic regulations and new power units. The previous generation of ground effect cars, used since 2022, has thus given way to cars with very different characteristics.
Russell is among the drivers who admitted to having some difficulties naturally exploiting these new machines. His teammate Kimi Antonelli has regularly been faster during the first half of the season.
Norris says he has long been used to questioning his driving style.
“I have had to change my driving style every year of my life”, explains the McLaren driver.
“For him, it worked for 20 years. For me, it didn’t work. My driving style worked in 2018, when I did my test here, in Hungary. That’s probably the only time. Since then, I have always had to change.”
“It’s our job”
This permanent adaptation can obviously complicate a driver’s task, but Norris refuses to use it as an excuse. According to him, the experience gained in Formula 1 should precisely allow better management of changes in a car’s behavior.
“I think the more experience you have in Formula 1, the better prepared you should be”, he continues.
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The Briton goes even further by saying that a driver unable to sufficiently change his approach simply does not have the required level.
“If you are not ready to adapt to a different car, then you are not at a high enough level.”
“It’s our job, that’s why we are paid millions. We have to drive any car we are given, whether it’s good or bad, easy or difficult. You have to manage it.”
A new car almost every weekend
For Norris, this necessity does not only concern the transition from one season to another. The characteristics of a car can evolve enough between two Grands Prix to force a driver to change his references once again.
Settings, technical developments, tires, or even the characteristics specific to each circuit can profoundly change a car’s behavior.
“At every race right now, I feel like I have to completely forget the previous weekend and learn to drive a new car, because that’s how it is for us.”
A situation that Norris now seems to consider perfectly normal after several seasons spent at McLaren.
“Every driver is different. But for me, my entire Formula 1 career has been about understanding how to change my driving style every season.”
An adaptability that could also explain why Norris has been able to go through several generations of cars at McLaren before winning the world title in 2025.
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