Lando Norris has brushed away Lewis Hamilton’s claims that Mercedes has started using the “party mode” again on its power units during 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix weekend.
Hamilton was more than a match for the Mercedes duo of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell during the sprint race at the Shanghai International Circuit, on Saturday.
Russell even admitted to having been caught off guard by Ferrari’s pace as Hamilton battled for the lead, eventually relinquishing it to Russell.
Therefore, after the sprint race, Hamilton suggested that Mercedes’ immense Qualifying might, might be because the team had started using the “party mode” on its engines once again.
When asked if this had any truth to it, Norris, who drives the Mercedes-powered MCL40 for McLaren, strongly rejected the insinuation.
“We don’t have that, so maybe he is used to his old days when they had it back then,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“[I don’t think Mercedes has it], so sometimes, when you are a bit off, you can create things in your head.”
Lando Norris makes McLaren claim despite Lewis Hamilton comments
That said, Norris also believes that despite starting behind the Ferraris of Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for the Grand Prix on Sunday, McLaren has a distinct advantage in terms of its power units.
“I wouldn’t say Ferrari has much more of an advantage. They were quicker [in the Sprint] and quicker now, but we have a better power unit than Ferrari, and that is our advantage, that we have more straight-line speed,” he explained.
“But [Ferrari] is still a car which drives around some of the corners quicker than a Mercedes, so to keep up with them in the corners and try to get them in the straight is difficult. Between them, [Mercedes and Ferrari] are strong in different areas; they have better tyre management and grip, and so it is easier to look after the tyres.
“That way, we have to push like hell in the corners to keep up and then catch up on the straight, so that’s kind of the wrong end of the stick you want to be in on a race situation at times, but we’re certainly not out of the picture in racing them, but it will be difficult.
“Everywhere, we see that the Mercedes improved in the corners throughout qualifying, they had good deployment and on top of everything that they need to be on top of, so they’re just doing a very good job, it is as simple as that.”
Hamilton’s claims open up yet more aspersions on Mercedes and its package for the 2026 campaign. Whether it will cause further problems for the Silver Arrows remains to be seen, but may leave those at the top keeping a close watch on its PU in Suzuka next time out.
READ MORE – Lando Norris spots Mercedes weakness to boost McLaren’s F1 Chinese GP hopes
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