Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has made a bold prediction regarding the future of the sport’s top talent, forecasting a specific driver to secure the world championship for the next three years. While the individual was not explicitly named in the initial report, the context of recent F1 commentary and current standings points to Lando Norris as the likely subject of this significant endorsement.
Norris, the reigning 2025 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion with McLaren, is currently navigating a challenging 2026 season. Despite his previous title success, the British driver sits sixth in the current standings, 98 points adrift of leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
McLaren, the 2025 Constructors’ Champions, also faces difficulties in the ongoing 2026 campaign, holding third position in the team standings. The team’s MCL40 car has proven challenging to drive, with Norris describing its performance at the recent British Grand Prix as ‘poor’.
Team Principal Andrea Stella has acknowledged that McLaren is approximately ‘three months behind’ its rivals in the 2026 development race. This deficit is partly attributed to the team’s intense focus on the 2025 title fight, which impacted early development for the new regulatory era.
The 2026 technical regulations introduced substantial changes to both chassis and power unit designs, presenting a steep learning curve for all teams. McLaren is currently redirecting its conceptual approach for the MCL40 to address these challenges.
Norris has secured two podium finishes this season, in Miami and Barcelona, but these results have not consistently reflected the team’s overall pace. The new Pirelli tyres, featuring higher prescribed pressures for 2026, have also influenced car behaviour, particularly in braking and cornering.
McLaren anticipates the first results of its redirected development strategy to appear from the Hungarian Grand Prix onwards, with further upgrades planned for the remainder of the season. The team aims to close the performance gap to its competitors through sustained development efforts.
Norris remains contracted with McLaren until at least the end of the 2027 season, securing his position with the Woking-based outfit for the foreseeable future. His current power unit supplier is Mercedes-AMG F1 M17 E Performance.
‘We’re like three months behind and that’s a hard task to overcome, but everyone at McLaren knows we can achieve that, and we’re excited to try and do it,’ Norris stated regarding the team’s development efforts.
Despite the current struggles, Montoya’s prediction underscores a belief in Norris’s long-term potential to add further world championships to his 2025 title. The coming seasons will determine if McLaren can provide the machinery to support such a sustained championship challenge.
