Lando Norris has been spending time with an F1 rival forward of the 2026 season.
Lando Norris has been spending time with an F1 rival (Picture: Getty)
Lando Norris has revealed that George Russell is ‘giddy’ with pleasure after being named the bookmakers’ favorite to win the 2026 F1 Drivers’ Championship title. The Norfolk-born racer is well-placed for a profitable season after Mercedes loved a powerful opening check in Montmelo.
Final 12 months, Russell put collectively essentially the most spectacular season of his F1 profession, successful two races and ending fourth within the standings. Nonetheless, he was compelled to look at on as his shut buddy Norris pipped Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri to a maiden World Championship crown.
Now, Russell senses that his time could have come. “I spoke to George and Alex the opposite day as a result of we performed padel collectively,” Norris defined after the primary pre-season check on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
“All of us got here into F1 on the similar time, and it (Norris’ title) has created extra starvation for them, particularly for George, as a result of he’s the bookies’ favorite. He’s all a bit giddy for the time being, and that may be a good thing to see.”
If Mercedes’ 2026 challenger is as robust as some anticipate, Norris and Verstappen will do properly to problem Russell for the crown this 12 months, however the five-time Grand Prix winner welcomes the battle along with his two rivals if the chance arises.
“I would love for it to prove that means,” he stated, addressing a possible battle with four-time world champion Verstappen. “I do need to go head-to-head with Max, and clearly, Lando had an ideal season final 12 months. However no, [being title favourite] would not add any extra strain.
George Russell is the pre-season title favorite (Picture: Getty)
“Most likely the followers and other people have been anticipating, you already know, to probably be Mercedes versus McLaren as a result of there was plenty of anticipation that Mercedes would clearly have the perfect energy unit.
“However it looks as if the opposite energy unit producers have completed a great job and we all know that Pink Bull have at all times had an incredible automotive, even via the years of dominance of Mercedes it was their engine that was letting them down, not their automotive. And we clearly understand how good Max is.
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“So I feel he is very a lot going to be within the battle this 12 months and that’s nice. You clearly want that you just’d have a barely simpler time of it. However it ought to by no means be straightforward, and if you are going to win, you need to have fought for it and received it honest and sq. on observe.”
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