Lando Norris and Max Verstappen ‘respect’ verdict given after controversial world title dig
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris have seen their friendship tested over the past year since the Brit emerged as a serious contender to take his world title – which he did in November last year
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen’s friendship has been tested over the past 18 months(Image: Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris’ friendship has been tested to breaking point over the past 18 months since the Brit emerged a serious contender, and eventual winner, at the front of the grid.
McLaren overturned Red Bull and Verstappen’s dominance in the 2024 season as Norris and Oscar Piastri both got their maiden wins on the board and the Woking team won their first Constructors’ Championship. Last year, Norris ended the Dutchman’s four-year dominance over the sport to lift the World Championship.
And Norris threatened to spark a feud with his Red Bull rival after he said Lewis Hamilton should be an eight-time world champion, not seven, following the controversial ending in Abu Dhabi in 2021. “He’s not won seven world championships,” Norris said before quickly correcting himself to say “it should’ve been eight”.
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The new regulations for 2026 will no doubt shuffle the pack, with keen eyes on McLaren and Red Bull for how they will fare with a new car under their drivers. However, Verstappen has already slammed the new breed of cars as “anti-racing” and “Formula E on steroids” due to excessive reliance on battery management and energy recovery.
A feeling that Norris does not hold the same opinion as he fired back: “I had a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it. So yeah, if he wants to retire he can retire.”
However, speaking to talkSPORT BET Slots Site, six-time Grand Prix winner Riccardo Patrese doesn’t believe that Norris’ comments are a lack of respect for Verstappen.
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“I don’t think Lando saying Max should go is a lack of respect. Maybe Lando doesn’t care much about the past of Formula 1. He likes what it is now and what he has.
“When I speak, I do so from my experience in the past. Lando is a driver of the present, the modern era. He knows this and he likes this. It is not a lack of respect for Max, it’s just that he likes what he has now.”
Norris’ words came after Verstappen has made no secret that he is looking at life outside of F1 already after criticising the new regulations and previously been left bemused with almost every area of the sport.
“Well, we will lose one of the best of all time,” Patrese warned if Verstappen walks away. “We have seen Max Verstappen can make the difference that only the very best drivers of the past like Senna and Schumacher, could. It would be a big loss if he leaves Formula 1 because he is a great champion.
“Now, I see him as the only driver who can make a difference and win even if he does not have a winning car. Last year he proved that and almost won the championship. It would be a big loss to lose Max Verstappen.
“It’s quite funny because I read some comments regarding the problems with the starts. He said, ’My friends, if you feel unsafe you can always start from the pit lane!’”
