Lando Norris has voiced his eagerness to compete wheel-to-wheel with Lewis Hamilton during the forthcoming Formula 1 campaign, expressing confidence that the record-breaking champion will return to form following a turbulent maiden year at Ferrari.
The newly crowned world champion, who secured Britain's first title since Hamilton's seventh in 2020, spoke warmly of his compatriot in an interview with Sky Sports News.
"I would love to race a bit more with Lewis," Norris stated. "Lewis has proved himself to be probably the best of all time. Everyone knows if anyone can bounce back from difficult years, it's Mr Hamilton."
Hamilton's 2025 season proved deeply disappointing for the 40-year-old, who finished eighth at the Abu Dhabi finale last Sunday.
Lando Norris has challenged Lewis Hamilton to fight him for the title
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For the first time across his remarkable 19-year career, the Briton failed to stand on the podium throughout an entire campaign.
He concluded the Drivers' Championship in sixth position, trailing Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc by a substantial 86 points.
The Scuderia's struggles extended beyond their star signing, with the Italian outfit placing fourth in the constructors' standings.
Remarkably, Ferrari were the sole team among the sport's leading quartet to go the entire season without claiming a Grand Prix victory.
Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton had a shocking campaign this year, failing to win a single race
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Norris clinched his maiden championship with a third-place finish in the season-ending race at Yas Marina, becoming the eleventh British driver to capture the sport's ultimate prize.
Despite Ferrari's underwhelming campaign, the McLaren star remains optimistic about facing Hamilton in battle once more.
"Obviously, Ferrari struggled a lot more this year than I think everyone was expecting," Norris acknowledged.
He also paid tribute to the calibre of competitors on the current grid, noting: "It's always a privilege that I get to race against someone that is the best in the world. You have got a good amount of those guys. You have Fernando, Lewis, Max."
The sweeping regulatory overhaul arriving this winter will transform the sport's technical landscape, with chassis design, aerodynamic packages and power units all undergoing fundamental changes.
Lando Norris has become the first British F1 driver since Lewis Hamilton to win the World Championship | GETTYNorris believes these alterations present a fresh opportunity for every competitor on the grid.
"Next year, everyone's got an opportunity," the champion declared. "Everyone's looking forward to it."
Lando Norris might just have taken Lewis Hamilton's mantle as Britain's Formula One posterboy
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The 25-year-old made clear his intentions to protect his newly won status, adding: "People want to come to take my crown, and I want to try to retain it. And I look forward to that battle."
The 2026 season commences with the Australian Grand Prix in March.