Juan Pablo Montoya: McLaren and Lando Norris Gaining Momentum for 2026 Championship

Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has noted that McLaren and Lando Norris are becoming increasingly formidable as they build confidence for the 2026 championship.

Norris heads into the upcoming Italian Grand Prix following victories at both the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix, although he is still 83 points behind Mercedes' championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Montoya commended McLaren for taking strategic risks, which he believes is contributing to their recent success.

Montoya emphasized that Norris's growing confidence, along with the team's willingness to embrace risk, makes them a challenging competitor. He also remarked on the differences in performance between Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri, noting that while Norris is comfortable with the MCL40, Piastri has struggled to find the same level of performance.