MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Formula 1 champion Lando Norris is struggling with his new era McLaren car and frustrated to line up only sixth in Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Norris’ title defense comes amid sweeping changes to the cars, and the 26-year-old British driver has endured a tough weekend at Albert Park so far.
F1’s new cars are complex, with unprecedented changes across the chassis and power unit, which now feature an almost 50:50 output split between the turbo 1.6-liter V6 engine and electrical energy harvested from the brakes — one that requires a new, often counterintuitive driving style.
“We’ve come from the best cars ever made in Formula 1, and the nicest to drive, to probably the worst,” he said after Saturday’s qualifying.
He’s not just coming to grips with his car’s complex energy management systems, but also in getting out on track — with the Briton losing significant time in Friday’s two practice sessions.
“Just getting into the rhythm of lifting everywhere to go quicker and using gears you don’t want to use and just understanding that when you lift more, you brake later but you have to brake less,” Norris said.
“That’s why laps are more valuable than ever. In the past, miss P1, not too bothered. Now, you miss five laps, not only do you as a driver have to figure things out quicker, the engine doesn’t learn what it needs to learn and then you’re just on the back foot.”
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Heath McKinley)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour)
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain waits in his team garage ahead of the third practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour)
KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (AP) — Olympic champion Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the first World Cup giant slalom since the Winter Games on Saturday to put pressure on Marco Odermatt for the season-long title.
Pinheiro Braathen protected his first-run lead to finish 0.54 seconds ahead of Olympic bronze medalist Loïc Meillard. Stefan Brennsteiner was third, 0.80 back.
Pinheiro Braathen’s historic gold-medal win for Brazil last month pushed Odermatt down to silver, and he is the Swiss star’s closest challenger in the season-long giant slalom standings.
“I’m just skiing with a lot of happiness, a lot of joy,” said Pinheiro Braathen, who was runner-up in the three World Cup giant slaloms before the Olympics.
Odermatt placed fifth Saturday, 1.33 back, and Pinheiro Braathen’s 100 points for the win cut the Swiss star’s lead in the World Cup giant slalom standings to 48 with one race left.
The discipline title will be decided March 25 at the season-ending race at Hafjell, Norway. Odermatt is the four-time defending champion.
Odermatt also is chasing a fifth straight overall World Cup title which he already effectively won.
He is 632 points ahead of Pinheiro Braathen with eight scheduled races left, though no rival who can theoretically catch him competes in all disciplines.
AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing
Austria's Stefan Brennsteiner competes during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt checks his time at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, center, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, celebrates on the podium, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen celebrates on the podium after winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Croatia's Filip Zubcic competes during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Austria's Stefan Brennsteiner competes during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Switzerland's Loic Meillard competes during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt competes during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen competes during an alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)
