Lando Norris believes that the departure of Max Verstappen would be a significant loss for his fellow competitors and for the sport of Formula 1 as a whole, yet he is confident that the four‑time world champion will "stay longer than people say." Norris' comments came during a McLaren media session where he and his teammate Oscar Piastri, both of whom challenged Verstappen for the 2023 title, were asked to weigh in on the Dutch driver’s future. Norris began by acknowledging Verstappen’s right to chart his own course: "Max has earned the right to go and do whatever he wants. He's won four world championships." He praised the Red Bull star’s candour, noting that Verstappen has never shied away from speaking his mind, regardless of whether his opinions are popular. "He's always been very open to say what he thinks, whether you agree or not or whether you should say it or shouldn't.
He's himself and I think that's a very good way to live your life," Norris said. The British driver warned that losing Verstappen would be a blow to Formula 1.
"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," he added. Norris also highlighted the personal challenge Verstappen presents to his rivals.
"He makes our lives incredibly tough at times, but he's always good fun to race against and it's always cool to race against someone who's won four championships. You always feel like you want to race against the best in the world and he certainly is one of them," Norris explained. "So yeah, it would be a loss for the sport." When the conversation turned to the upcoming 2026 regulations, Norris expressed mixed feelings about the hybrid power units that will split power evenly between internal combustion and electric sources.
He noted that perceptions differ depending on experience: "When you see the new guys who come in and this is their first year in Formula 1, everyone is like 'yeah these cars are sick!' For the guys who have driven last year's cars and for some of the previous ones, of course, we have something to compare against and it's all kind of relative for everyone." Nonetheless, Norris remains optimistic about Verstappen’s longevity. He recalled hearing the Red Bull driver say he wants to capture a fifth world title soon, which suggests that Verstappen still has ambition and will likely continue racing beyond the expectations of many observers. "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 concluded.
Oscar Piastri echoed a similar sentiment. The Australian driver said, "It would be a shame for the sport to lose Max, especially at this point in his career. I think it would be a big loss for the sport as a whole." He emphasized that competing against the best is essential for any driver’s development. "For us as drivers, we want to race against the best and try and prove ourselves against the best and I think Max has shown his calibre in the last 10 years.
In the last five or six years he's been the benchmark, so for everyone it would be a pretty big shame and obviously not a great look." The discussion of Verstappen’s future intensified after it was revealed that his long‑time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will join McLaren in 2028, once his Red Bull contract expires. Lambiase has been a trusted confidant for Verstappen throughout his championship runs, and his departure could signal a shift in the Dutchman's support network.
Verstappen’s current contract with Red Bull runs until the end of the 2028 season, but it contains performance‑related clauses that could allow an early exit if certain targets are not met. Should Verstappen decide to move on, Mercedes has long been touted as the most probable destination, given the historic rivalry between the two teams and ongoing discussions over the past two years. McLaren’s chief executive Zak Brown was asked whether the acquisition of Lambiase might make his team a more attractive option for Verstappen. Brown responded enthusiastically about his current driver lineup: "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, yeah, Max is a huge talent but I'm not anticipating that." When pressed on where Verstappen might head if he leaves Red Bull, Brown said, "If I had to bet, I'd say to Mercedes." He added that while there is always a chance Lambiase could join McLaren earlier than 2028, the team respects existing contracts and will wait until the agreed date. "There's always a chance, but he has a contract and we're going to respect that.
Obviously in conversations with Red Bull, they obviously need to I presume have a solution and then once and if that's in place, open to have a dialogue. But we're prepared to wait to '28 and that's what we'll do if that's what ends up happening." Beyond the driver‑engineer shuffle, the broader context of the 2026 rule changes looms large. The new regulations aim to make the sport more sustainable by introducing a 50‑50 split between internal combustion engines and electric power, alongside aerodynamic tweaks intended to improve overtaking. Some drivers, including Norris, have expressed concerns about how these changes affect car handling and performance, especially for veterans accustomed to the previous generation of machinery.
Nevertheless, the consensus is that the sport will adapt, and the talent pool—anchored by figures like Verstappen—will continue to deliver compelling competition. As the 2024 season progresses toward the Miami Grand Prix, the second Sprint weekend of the year, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely for any clues about Verstappen’s long‑term plans. Whether he stays with Red Bull, moves to Mercedes, or perhaps even considers a surprise switch to McLaren, the consensus among his peers is clear: his presence enriches the sport, and losing him would be a significant setback for Formula 1. The next few years promise to be pivotal, not only for Verstappen’s legacy but also for the evolving landscape of the championship itself.