Lando Norris showed promising speed during the Friday practice sessions at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, finishing second fastest in the FP2 session at Spa-Francorchamps. Despite this encouraging pace, Norris and McLaren’s technical director Neil Houldey both expressed caution about interpreting the practice results as a clear indicator of the team’s true competitiveness.
After improving his lap time by nearly 1.8 seconds from FP1 to FP2, Norris remained measured in his assessment. He acknowledged that the second place in practice did not necessarily reflect McLaren’s actual position relative to their rivals, particularly the works Mercedes team. Norris also faces a grid penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix due to the installation of new power unit components, which adds another layer of complexity to the weekend.
Spa-Francorchamps presents a unique challenge with its combination of high-speed straights and demanding corners, requiring teams to find a delicate balance between low drag and sufficient downforce. This is made more difficult by the 2026 power units’ restrictions on energy deployment and harvesting. Norris pointed out that McLaren’s car struggled with limited electrical energy deployment on the straights, especially through the Blanchimont corner, which resulted in noticeable speed losses compared to competitors.
While McLaren uses Mercedes power units, telemetry data indicates that the team is still behind the works Mercedes outfit in terms of efficient energy deployment and chassis downforce. Interestingly, Norris’s car was able to deploy more electrical power on certain straights, but this advantage was offset by less optimal energy management overall, leading to slower times in key sectors.
To address these challenges, McLaren brought a new low-drag rear wing to Spa, aiming to improve straight-line speed. However, the team continues to search for the best energy deployment strategy to maximize performance under the current power unit regulations. Neil Houldey confirmed that the team is exploring various deployment options overnight to enhance their performance for the final practice session and qualifying.
Despite the encouraging pace shown in practice, both Norris and McLaren remain grounded about their prospects. The complex nature of Spa’s circuit and the technical constraints of the 2026 power units mean that practice times alone do not provide a complete picture of race potential. Norris’s cautious approach reflects an understanding of these factors as the team works to optimize their setup and strategy throughout the weekend.
