Lando Norris is eager to get behind the wheel of a Formula E car after attending the recent Monaco E-Prix. During a pause in the Formula 1 schedule, the McLaren driver traveled from his Monte Carlo home to experience the all-electric racing series firsthand.
The defending F1 world champion expressed genuine enthusiasm for Formula E during a pre-race grid interview, calling it “the first ever Formula E race I’ve been to and I’m excited.” He praised the racing’s unpredictability and high level of competition. “There’s always chaos, always carnage, and it’s always unpredictable—everything you want from racing,” he said. “Many of the drivers are familiar to me from earlier in my career. The talent here is top-notch, with some of the best athletes in motorsport.”
Norris’s comments come in the wake of his outspoken criticism of Formula 1’s new 2026 technical regulations. Despite F1’s decade-long use of hybrid power units, the upcoming rules will emphasize electric power significantly more, a change that has sparked frustration among drivers due to increased complexity.
READ MORE: Somerset to Simplify Bus Ticketing with National ‘Project Coral’ Roll-Out
READ MORE: Children’s Safety Assured Amid Social Worker Strike in Bath and North East Somerset
Norris has been particularly blunt, describing the latest F1 cars as “probably the worst” in the sport’s history. He echoed rival Max Verstappen’s harsh analogy, likening the 2026 generation to “Formula E on steroids.” Even after recent modifications to improve performance and handling, Norris termed the progress “only a small step in the right direction.”
Despite his concerns, Norris remains focused on defending his world championship title after narrowly beating Verstappen last season. Speaking alongside former Formula E champion Jake Dennis in Monaco, Norris revealed his intention to drive a Formula E car to gain new insights. “I was planning to do a bit of driving in a Formula E car at some point,” he said. “I’ve spoken to Jake and others who have driven these cars. While not everything translates between Formula 1 and Formula E, there’s always something to learn from drivers at the top of this category.”
On race day, British fans celebrated as Oliver Rowland claimed his first victory of the Formula E season, with Aston Martin F1 reserve and former Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich achieving his first podium in second place. Rowland currently holds second in the driver standings behind ten-year series veteran Mitch Evans, who continues to chase his elusive first championship after finishing runner-up twice before.