Norris’s stint in McLaren’s new Hypercar might look minor, but the world champion sees real value.
Last week at Algarve he completed 38 laps in the MCL‑HY, tasting top‑tier WEC machinery and feeding data back before the 2027 debut.
The 26‑year‑old noted the car’s vast setup freedom versus F1 and still called it ‘a quick car.’
‘The detail they chase is insane,’ Norris said. ‘In some cases they can tweak the car far more than we’re allowed in Formula 1.’
‘While F1 feels limitless, its regulations curb what you can change. The Hypercar lets you play with electronics and setup far beyond our reach.’
‘It feels like the old‑school F1 days, a bit of a free‑for‑all,’ he added, praising the creative freedom. For my money, that freedom could sharpen his racecraft.
‘Heavy, less downforce, yet still quick,’ Norris observed, noting the excitement despite the differences.
For context, Peugeot’s Malthe Jakobsen pole‑sitted the Spa 6‑Hours in 2 m 00.653 s, while F1’s 2026 benchmark was Kimi Antonelli’s 1 m 44.361 s and F2’s Rafael Camara 1 m 56.306 s.
At the Portuguese circuit he teamed up with McLaren’s 2027 recruits Mikkel Jensen and Laurens Vanthoor, gaining extra insight.
‘It was a chance to try new things and learn,’ he explained. ‘Every car I drive teaches me different styles; I absorb what the other drivers show me to improve this weekend.’
‘Staying within the McLaren family sharpens my focus for the real job – racing Formula 1,’ he added.
Norris stressed that the 2027 Le Mans 24 Hours won’t clash with his F1 calendar, only the test day does.
Lando Norris, McLaren
‘I’m not thinking about it at all,’ he insisted. ‘My focus stays on Formula 1 and will never shift.’
‘If it ever clicks, maybe next year or later, I’d love to try,’ he said, adding he has no timeline.
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– The Team