Lando Norris makes Lewis Hamilton F1 2026 prediction as he reveals want

Newly-crowned F1 world champion Lando Norris has admitted he would “love” to race extra in opposition to Lewis Hamilton.

Norris clinched his maiden F1 world championship by ending third on the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, having pipped Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen to the 2025 crown by simply two factors.

The McLaren driver has develop into the eleventh Briton to be topped F1 world champion however is hoping to battle seven-time world champion Hamilton extra in 2026.

Hamilton endured a depressing debut season with Ferrari, who have been winless in 2025 because the 40-year-old Briton failed to complete on a grand prix podium for the primary time in his illustrious F1 profession.

However Norris has tipped Hamilton to bounce again subsequent season.

“We have had an excellent quantity of battles already. I’d like to race a bit extra with Lewis,” Norris informed Sky Sports activities Information. “Clearly, Ferrari struggled much more this 12 months than I believe everybody was anticipating.

“Lewis has proved himself to be most likely the very best of all time. Everybody is aware of if anybody can bounce again from troublesome years, it is Mr Hamilton, and I’d like to race in opposition to him extra.

“It is at all times a privilege that I get to race in opposition to somebody that’s the greatest on the planet. You’ve got an excellent quantity of these guys. You might have Fernando [Alonso], Lewis, Max [Verstappen].

“There’s numerous us that wish to climb within the footsteps of those different guys. George and Oscar [Piastri] are two of these and there is so many guys on the grid.”

Norris able to defend crown

Norris is conscious F1’s guidelines reset has the potential to shake-up the pecking  order and will knock McLaren off their perch, however he feels able to combat to defend his world championship whatever the competitors.

“Subsequent 12 months, everybody’s received a chance,” Norris stated. “Everybody’s wanting ahead to it.

“Folks wish to come to take my crown, and I wish to attempt to retain it. And I stay up for that battle.”

However first, the 26-year-old Brit is wanting ahead to having a while off the place he plans to neglect about being an F1 driver.

“I’ll spend a while with my household, with my buddies,” Norris replied when requested what his plans are for the winter break.

“Everybody within the staff have earned themselves an excellent break. Work begins even earlier subsequent 12 months than it usually does, by virtually three weeks, so a a lot shorter vacation.

“Simply get out someplace, get pleasure from a while away with my family and friends. And earlier than I do know it by the point I am going ‘that is good’, we will should get again to coaching and prepare for subsequent season, however I am wanting ahead to some good days off that everybody deserves.”