Lando Norris believes that the departure of four‑time champion Max Verstappen would be a huge loss for both his fellow competitors and the sport as a whole, yet he is confident the Dutch driver will continue racing for longer than many fans anticipate. Norris explained that Verstappen’s future beyond the current season remains uncertain, especially after the champion voiced criticism of the 2026 rule package and expressed frustration with the way the current cars have had to be handled before the upcoming regulatory tweaks are introduced at next week’s Miami Grand Prix. During a McLaren media day on Wednesday, world champion Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri – both of whom challenged Verstappen for the title last year – were asked to share their thoughts on the Red Bull driver’s long‑term plans. Norris opened by saying, "Max has earned the right to go and do whatever he wants.
He's won four world championships. He's always been that guy, not just now. He's always been very open about what he thinks, whether you agree with him or not, or whether you think he should keep quiet.
He stays true to himself and I think that’s a great way to live your life." He continued, "It would be a shame for the sport, it would be a miss for the sport, if that does happen because he is probably one of the best drivers you’ll ever see in Formula 1. And I think it would be a shame for us because, as much as he makes our lives incredibly tough at times, he’s always fun to race against. It’s always cool to line up against someone who has won four championships. You always want to race against the best in the world and he certainly is one of them, so yeah, it would be a loss for the sport." Norris also touched on the upcoming 2026 cars, which will run on a hybrid powertrain split 50‑50 between internal‑combustion and electric power.
He noted that the perception of the new machinery varies: "I think it’s relative for different people because when you see the newcomers in their first year of 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. But hopefully things get better. 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." Piastri echoed a similar sentiment, stating, "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. For us as drivers, we want to race against the best and prove ourselves against the best and Max has shown his calibre over the last ten years.
Especially 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 about Verstappen’s future intensified a fortnight ago when it was announced that his long‑time race engineer and confidant Gianpiero Lambiase will join McLaren in 2028 after his Red Bull contract expires. Verstappen’s own deal 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.
If Verstappen does decide to move on, Mercedes has long been viewed as the most likely destination. Talks between the two camps have been reported over the past two years, and many analysts see a potential switch to the Silver Arrows as a realistic scenario.
However, Lambiase’s impending move to McLaren raises the question of whether the Woking team could become a serious contender for Verstappen’s services in the future. When Sky Sports News asked McLaren chief executive Zak Brown about the situation, he 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 they are 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, 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." Brown added, "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 once that’s in place they can open a dialogue. But we’re prepared to wait until ’28 and that’s what we’ll do if that’s what ends up happening." Beyond the personal opinions of Norris and Piastri, the broader context of Formula 1’s evolving technical landscape adds layers of complexity to any speculation about Verstappen’s career trajectory.
The 2026 regulation package aims to shift the sport toward greater sustainability, with a stronger emphasis on hybrid power units and a reduction in overall carbon emissions. Teams are expected to adapt their chassis, aerodynamics, and powertrain strategies to meet these new requirements, and drivers will need to adjust their driving styles accordingly. For Verstappen, who has thrived under the current regulations that favour a high‑downforce, turbo‑charged engine formula, the transition could be both a challenge and an opportunity.
His ability to extract performance from a car, his racecraft, and his mental resilience have set him apart, but the hybrid‑centric era may demand a different set of skills, such as managing energy deployment more precisely and adapting to altered tyre degradation patterns. Moreover, the competitive landscape is shifting. Mercedes, after a dominant stretch from 2014 to 2021, is rebuilding around a new generation of talent and a refreshed technical direction. Ferrari continues to chase the elusive championship, while Red Bull remains the benchmark team.
If Verstappen were to move, the balance of power could be dramatically altered, potentially sparking a new era of rivalry. Fans and pundits alike are keenly watching how the narrative unfolds. The prospect of Verstappen staying with Red Bull until at least 2028 provides a degree of stability for the sport, ensuring that the drama of a dominant champion continues to draw viewership worldwide. Conversely, a move to Mercedes or even McLaren would inject fresh intrigue, reshaping team dynamics and possibly accelerating the development race for the new hybrid formula.
In summary, while Norris and Piastri both acknowledge the emotional and competitive impact of losing Verstappen, they also recognize his personal ambition and the contractual realities that suggest he will remain in Formula 1 longer than many expect. Whether he ultimately stays with Red Bull, switches to Mercedes, or even entertains a future with McLaren, his presence will continue to shape the sport’s narrative for years to come.