Journalist claims that interview with Lando Norris was cut short when driver was asked about 2026 regulations.

Writing for The Guardian, Donald McRae claims that his interview with the 2025 world champion was essentially terminated when he asked his view of the 2026 regulations, and fellow drivers, Max Verstappen and George Russell.

McRae admits that before the interview, which covered a wide range of issues, including the driver's battle with mental health, he had been sent a message requesting him not to ask about the regulations or the drivers, but, with ten minutes remaining, opted to "push back anyway".

Norris's manager is not present but is able to overhear the interview courtesy of a phone placed on the table in front of the McLaren driver. McRae states that: "His disembodied voice suddenly crackles from it and stresses that there can be no questions about this subject; his sole interjection during the interview".

As McRae urges Norris on the importance of the issue, one on which the driver has been one of the most outspoken critics, a representative of his management team urges: "We're done with time."

When McRae reminds Norris that there are ten minutes remaining, the driver replies: "I'm not the boss."

McRae persists, reminding Norris that he is the world champion and that his management works for him, not the other way around.

"That's fine. I'm happy to answer that question," says Norris.

"No!" insists the management representative.

"I'm not the boss," laughs Norris.

McRae changes tack and asks if Mercedes can be caught this season. "We're done with time," snaps the management representative. McRae asks Norris why even this question cannot be answered when the representative says: "No, we're not answering that."

"Even Norris looks exasperated," admits McRae, as Norris questions the representative, before answering: "Yes (Mercedes) can (be caught) and we're doing our best to make sure it'll be us who do that."

This apparent shutting out of the media is not a good look for those involved and one that will surely raise questions when the circus reconvenes in Miami.

Admittedly, it's a love-hate relationship, F1 needs the media and the media needs F1, however the sport, and those involved cannot cherry pick what subjects are up for discussion*.

Incidentally, McRae is with The Guardian, whose other correspondent, Giles Richards, was ejected from Max Verstasppen's press conference in Japan.

* Subjects unlikely to be up for discussion in Miami - or beyond - include the threat of drivers being jailed over failing to pay their taxes in Italy, and talk of an F1 driver using the services of a notorious Milan-based prostitution ring.

Now that's an episode of Drive to Survive we'd watch!

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 10 hours ago

"Norris is a company man. "

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2. Posted by Jean-Pierre, 11 hours ago

"Well... may be this doosh is part of Landos' stress problems, if any, of course."

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3. Posted by Celtic Tiger, 22/04/2026 23:45

"Poor lad, wins the WDC and is still talked at by his management like he's some five year old standing in the grocery isle holding a colourful box of sugary cereal. If that's the attitude in public, one has to wonder the degree its cranked up behind closed doors. Absolutely shameful treatment, give the lad his respect ffs.

That last paragraph though had me jumping onto google. Crazy stuff."

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4. Posted by trackrecords, 22/04/2026 22:49

"There's nothing better than a Manager or Team PR intervening in interviews, and giving the driver 'a look' when a contentious subject is mentioned.

Eddie Irvine was the best one for being unpredictable in interviews - we need more Eddies and less automatoms."

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5. Posted by KKK, 22/04/2026 10:26

"Im sorry but the statement "F1 needs the media and the media needs F1", F1 needs the support of the fans who , in the end pay for F1. The fans have been ignored, yet again. F1 at the moment is akin to a simulator, which is souless. I just wish the powers that be get rid of the latest rules completely. I, for one, will not watch or follow Miami."

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6. Posted by Wokingchap, 22/04/2026 10:22

"It didn't show Lando in a bad way, quite the opposite, he contradicted his "management " by answering the question...... well done."

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7. Posted by Max Noble, 22/04/2026 10:12

"We are living in a post-truth world whereby those in Power (pick a tyrant you dislike) are throwing power around and dismissing “the people” (that’s us) like never before. Right now the period from 1950 to 1990 is looking better than ever… Guess we need WW3 to erupt to smack sense back into people and get another great 30 years commencing around 2050…
"

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Norris muzzled?

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