Max Verstappen, the 2024 Formula 1 World Champion, recently shared his thoughts on Lando Norris and his relationship with the McLaren driver. Verstappen, who clinched his fourth world title in Las Vegas, discussed not only the on-track battles with Norris but also the possibility of the two becoming teammates at Red Bull Racing.
Verstappen’s Historic Season and Rivalry with Norris
The 2024 F1 season started in dominant fashion for Max Verstappen. His Red Bull Racing team, led by the RB20, quickly proved to be the class of the field. Verstappen’s early-season dominance saw him drop only a single race, a reliability issue in Australia, before McLaren introduced upgrades to their car. These upgrades allowed McLaren, and Norris in particular, to become the closest challengers to Verstappen’s Red Bull, though they were never able to overtake the Dutch driver. Despite the competition heating up, Verstappen held on to win his fourth title.
Throughout the season, Verstappen and Norris found themselves in numerous battles, with Norris emerging as one of Verstappen’s most consistent competitors. Verstappen reflected on this, acknowledging Norris’ talent and his impressive season. However, Verstappen also looked back to their earlier days, when he had suggested Norris join him at Red Bull.
Verstappen’s Invitation to Norris: "Your Time Will Come"
Verstappen shared an insight into his past interactions with Norris. The two have been friends off-track for years, and Verstappen admitted he had often encouraged Norris, especially in the early stages of his career. "I’ve spent, of course, quite a lot of moments with Lando before," Verstappen said. "So when I was already winning and he wasn’t, I always told him, ‘Your time will come. Stick to the process. I think you're in a good team environment.’ I happily invited him also to be my teammate at the time. If you want to win, you can come here [to Red Bull] as well."
Verstappen also emphasized that he is happy for Norris and the progress he’s made, despite not always having the results he hoped for. "But of course, I'm happy for him," Verstappen added. "He had a great season, maybe not everything went his way this year, but that's just part of the road that you're on. You make mistakes, you learn from it. It's about how you bounce back from it."
A Friendship with Boundaries: Verstappen on Norris’ Relationship
While Verstappen and Norris often hang out off-track, playing games like paddle or golf, the nature of their friendship remains respectful but not overly close. Verstappen was quick to clarify that, while they are friends, they are not "best friends."
"We are friends now, we are not best friends, it's not like I call him day to day. Both of us have our own best friends, that’s how you grow up, right?" Verstappen said. "But we are friends. I have a lot of respect for him."
Verstappen’s comments provide a glimpse into the complex dynamics that exist between two of F1’s top drivers. While they share a camaraderie off-track, the on-track rivalry adds an interesting layer to their relationship, especially with Norris proving to be one of Verstappen’s toughest challengers in 2024.
Looking Ahead to 2025: Verstappen and Norris in the Same Team?
As Max Verstappen celebrates his fourth world title, the future remains uncertain when it comes to his relationship with Norris. The two could find themselves battling for the championship again in 2025, but there's also the possibility that Verstappen’s invitation to Norris to join Red Bull could become a reality in the future. With both drivers at the top of their game, the prospect of them working together in the same team is one that F1 fans continue to speculate about.
In the meantime, Verstappen will continue to focus on defending his title, while Norris looks to close the gap to the dominant Red Bull. The rivalry between these two drivers is likely to continue heating up, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as they watch the competition unfold in the coming seasons.
