Former F1 race winner doubts McLaren will prioritise Lando Norris in 2026

Former Formulation 1 race winner Johnny Herbert believes McLaren will present equal assist for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri subsequent season.

McLaren needed to handle a good championship battle between each of its drivers throughout the 24-round 2025 season, with ‘papaya guidelines’ resulting in flashpoints on observe at varied moments.

Within the closing rounds, quite a lot of noise was generated round McLaren focusing its efforts on Lando Norris’ cost over Oscar Piastri’s, with the Australian parliament even weighing in on this.

However, three-time grand prix winner and former Sky pundit Johnny Herbert believes McLaren maintained equity between Norris and Piastri, and doesn’t count on that to vary in 2026.

“I believe there’s going to be equity at McLaren, and I am a type of who assume equity is at all times a constructive factor as a result of it simply reveals who would be the greatest,” he informed NewsBettingSites.

“In order that assist mechanism is there for each of them.

“You’ll be able to at all times discover sure races or sure incidents the place you say that favoured Lando and that favoured Oscar. I do know Oscar felt there was a bit extra assist for Lando.

“I do not assume [McLaren supporting Norris more] is the case as a result of on the finish of the day, it is right down to that uncooked tempo.

“It does present McLaren has the proper elements for that assist.

“The one factor I nonetheless assume might have bitten them way more within the bottom than it did had been these choices, what occurred in Monza for instance, or what occurred in Hungary final yr.

“These conditions ought to probably not come into play.

“You have simply received to let it circulation, let it occur and the drivers will reply in the way in which that they really feel match.

“In Abu Dhabi Lando drove it in a really sensible method, as did Oscar, who tried very onerous to place Max below stress.

“So, it was a double win for McLaren in lots of respects as a result of it was placing stress on the man that was placing stress on McLaren, which was Max.

“Lando drove the proper race and did the whole lot he wanted to do.

“He was at all times simply sufficient forward of Leclerc. He knew Charles’ tyres had been going to go off, and he made the proper technique and drive.”