Lando Norris believes that the departure of four‑time world champion Max Verstappen would be a major loss for his fellow competitors and for Formula 1 as a whole, yet he is confident the Dutch driver will "stay longer than people say." Norris’ comments came during a McLaren media day where he and teammate Oscar Piastri, both of whom challenged Verstappen for the 2023 title, were asked to weigh in on the Red Bull star’s future. Norris began by acknowledging Verstappen’s right to make his own choices. "Max has earned the right to go and do whatever he wants," the Brit said. "He’s won four world championships and has always been outspoken, whether people agree with him or not.
He’s true to himself, and that’s a great way to live." He went on to stress how much the sport would suffer if Verstappen ever decided to retire now. "It would be a shame for the sport, it will be a miss for the sport, if that does happen because he probably is one of the best drivers you’ll see in Formula 1 ever," Norris asserted.
The young McLaren driver also highlighted the paradoxical nature of racing against a champion. "As much as he makes our lives incredibly tough at times, he’s always fun to race against," Norris said. "It’s cool to line up next to someone who has won four championships.
You always want to test yourself against the best in the world, and Max certainly is one of them. So yes, losing him would be a loss for the sport." When the conversation turned to the upcoming 2026 technical regulations, Norris expressed a nuanced view.
He noted that the new hybrid power units, which will split propulsion 50‑50 between internal‑combustion and electric power, have generated mixed reactions. "It’s relative for different people," he explained.
"New drivers coming into Formula 1 this year are thrilled – they think the cars are amazing. But for those of us who have driven the previous generation, we have a benchmark to compare against, and it feels different." He added that the transition period is still ongoing, and hopes the performance gap will narrow as teams adapt to the new formula.
Despite the regulatory uncertainty, Norris is convinced Verstappen will continue to chase further glory. "I was just told he said he wants to win a fifth world championship at the minute, so I’m sure he’ll stay longer than people say," Norris remarked, underscoring the Dutchman's hunger for more titles. Oscar Piastri echoed a similar sentiment. "It would be a shame for the sport to lose Max, especially at this point in his career," the Australian said.
"We as drivers want to race against the best and prove ourselves, and Max has set the benchmark over the last decade, particularly the last five or six years. Losing him would be a big loss for the sport as a whole." The discussion of Verstappen’s future intensified after it was revealed that his long‑time race engineer and confidant Gianpiero Lambiase will join McLaren in 2028, once his Red Bull contract expires.
Verstappen’s own deal with Red Bull runs through the end of the 2028 season, although it contains performance‑based clauses that could allow an early exit if certain targets are not met. Speculation about where Verstappen might go if he leaves Red Bull has centered on Mercedes, a team that has reportedly been in talks with both parties over the past two years. McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown was asked whether Lambiase’s move could make his team a more attractive destination for Verstappen. Brown replied, "From McLaren’s point of view, I couldn’t be happier with Lando and Oscar.
We have long‑term agreements with them and I think it’s the greatest driver pairing on and off the track, so we have no intention of replacing any of our two superstars. Obviously if one were to go away, yes, Max is a huge talent but I’m not anticipating that. Where might he go?
If I had to bet, I’d say to Mercedes." Regarding Lambiase’s potential arrival before 2028, Brown said, "There’s always a chance, but he has a contract and we’re going to respect that. Obviously in conversations with Red Bull, they need to have a solution and then, once and if that’s in place, we’re open to a dialogue. But we’re prepared to wait until ’28 and that’s what we’ll do if that’s what ends up happening." Norris also touched on the broader context of the sport’s calendar and media coverage, reminding fans that the Miami Grand Prix – the second Sprint weekend of the season – will take place from May 1‑3 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. He encouraged viewers to stream the races via NOW, noting the service requires no long‑term contract and can be cancelled at any time.
In summary, both Norris and Piastri view Max Verstappen as an integral part of Formula 1’s present and future. While the regulatory landscape and contractual nuances create some uncertainty, the consensus among his peers is that the Dutch champion’s competitive drive and desire for additional championships will keep him on the grid longer than many pundits anticipate.
Their comments also highlight the delicate balance teams must strike in retaining top talent, managing engineering staff moves, and planning for the sport’s evolution under the 2026 rule changes.