Lando Norris, freshly crowned world champion, took the McLaren MCL40 out for its first official laps at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Wednesday, describing the experience with the intriguing six-word verdict: “It still feels like a McLaren.”
This understated statement holds weight, especially given McLaren’s dominant run in the 2025 Formula 1 season, which saw them secure their second consecutive Constructors' Championship title. The Woking-based team finished a commanding 364 points ahead of runner-up Mercedes and clinched victory in 14 out of 24 Grands Prix.
Norris’s pace in the previous MCL39 played a crucial role in him claiming his inaugural Drivers' Championship title. Although Max Verstappen mounted a late-season surge, winning the final triple-header and finishing on the podium in the last ten races, Norris’s consistent speed and skill ultimately earned him the crown.
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Reflecting on the new challenges ahead with the MCL40, Norris remarked, “This is still going to take a while. The conditions here differ from what we’ll face in Bahrain or Melbourne. Our goal is to gather as much data as possible across all conditions — rain or shine. The more laps we complete, the better. It’s nice to be back in the car. Of course, it feels different, but it still feels like a McLaren, still powerful, still a true Formula 1 car — and that’s the most important thing.”
Norris also elaborated on the changes brought by the new generation of F1 machinery. He noted a slight reduction in cornering speeds compared to the ground-effect cars while acknowledging improvements in straight-line acceleration.
“It feels a bit slower in corners but quicker in acceleration and top speed. We’re hitting 340 to 350 kph more quickly than previous years,” he said. “It presents new challenges, especially in managing the battery and power unit. There’s more complexity to understand, to manage energy deployment and performance. Every new change takes time to master, and that’s exactly why these testing days are crucial.”
Adding a personal touch to his debut session, Norris enjoyed driving with the prestigious No. 1 on his McLaren for the first time—a symbol of his world champion status earned last season over Verstappen.