Reigning F1 champion Norris says 2026 favourite Russell is 'giddy' about taking his crown

[p]Formula 1's new crop of cars have yet to show ​their true paces, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]Russell[/a]'s Mercedes team have already demonstrated impressive reliability, racking up the miles in a shakedown test in Barcelona ‌last week.[/p][p]McLaren also use Mercedes engines and have been constructors' champions ‌for the past two seasons, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Norris[/a] becoming Britain's 11th champion last year.[/p][p]Norris entered Formula 1 at the same time as Russell, who started at Williams, after the pair ⁠had also battled with Anglo-Thai [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/albon-alexander/OEbwYC7k/"]Alex Albon[/a] in Formula 2. Russell ‌won that series in 2018, with Norris second and Albon - now at ​Williams - third.[/p][p]"I spoke to Alex and George the other day mainly because we played padel together," Norris told reporters at a McLaren media event at the Woking factory.[/p][p][b]"Especially with them, because we kind of came into F1 at the same ‌time, I think it (Norris winning the title) has created more hunger for them.[/b][/p][p][b]"Especially for George because he's the bookies' favourite. He's a little bit giddy at the minute. That's a great ⁠thing to see."[/b][/p][embed guid="fa677976-6a2d-40a0-bf2c-631a8803abaf" url="https://x.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/2018685569157468497" social-type="twitter" /][p]Norris joked that Russell was the "massive" favourite and said he was sure his friend would win the championship one day, if not this year.[/p][p]Russell shrugged off the tag at a Mercedes season launch this week and said he did not "really feel anything" from it.[/p][p][b]"As I've said for a long time, I feel ready to fight for a world championship. Whether we have that comment above us or not, that does not change my approach one single bit,"[/b] ⁠he said.[/p][p]Norris said he had achieved a life goal ‌but felt no different coming into the season with the number one on his car as champion.[/p][p][b]"It certainly hasn't taken away any ambition or desire to want to do it again or to come into this season ⁠and to not care about it," [/b]he added.[/p][p]The season ​starts in Australia on March 8.[/p]