Lando Norris believes that Max Verstappen would be profoundly missed by his peers and the entire Formula 1 community if the four‑time world champion ever decided to retire, yet he is confident the Dutch driver will "stay longer than people say". The conversation about Verstappen's future has intensified after his outspoken criticism of the forthcoming 2026 technical regulations and his dissatisfaction with how the current cars have been required to be driven ahead of the upcoming rule tweaks that will be introduced at next week’s Miami Grand Prix. During a McLaren media day, world champion Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri – both of whom challenged Verstappen for the 2023 title – were asked to share their thoughts on the Red Bull star’s long‑term plans.
Norris began by acknowledging Verstappen’s right to make his own choices: "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 or not, whether you should say it or shouldn’t. He’s himself and I think that’s a very good way to live your life." He went on to stress how much the sport would lose if Verstappen ever walked away: "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.
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 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, so yeah, it would be a loss for the sport." Norris also touched on the mixed feelings many drivers have about the 2026 power‑unit formula, which will split power 50‑50 between internal‑combustion engines and electric motors. He noted that newcomers often rave about the new cars, while veterans compare them to the previous generation: "I think it’s relative for different people because 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.
But hopefully things get better and 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, emphasizing how much the sport would suffer without Verstappen at this stage of his career. "It would be a shame for the sport to lose Max, you know, especially at this point in his career as well.
I think it would be a big loss for the sport as a whole," the Australian driver said. "For us as drivers, we want to race against the best and try to prove ourselves against the best and I think Max has shown his calibre in the last ten years. I think especially the last five or six 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 earlier when it was announced that his long‑time race engineer and confidant Gianpiero Lambiase would join McLaren in 2028 after his Red Bull contract expires.
Verstappen’s own agreement with Red Bull runs through 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 seen as the most plausible destination, with rumors of talks between the two camps circulating over the past two years.
McLaren’s chief executive Zak Brown was asked whether Lambiase’s move might make the Woking team a more attractive option 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, yeah, 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." When pressed about the possibility of Lambiase joining McLaren 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 obviously need to, I presume, have a solution and then once and if that’s in place, we’re open to having 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 immediate speculation, the broader context of Formula 1’s evolving technical landscape adds another layer of uncertainty.
The 2026 regulations aim to make the sport more sustainable by mandating a 50‑percent hybrid power unit, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and introducing new aerodynamic constraints to promote closer racing. Drivers like Norris have expressed both optimism and caution, noting that while the new cars may appear exciting to rookies, seasoned drivers will inevitably compare them to the machines they’ve mastered over the years. Nevertheless, the consensus among the drivers interviewed is clear: Verstappen’s talent, work ethic, and competitive spirit make him an invaluable asset to the sport.
His willingness to speak his mind, even when it ruffles feathers, has earned him respect as much as his on‑track achievements. As Norris summed up, "He’s always been himself, and that’s a very good way to live your life." Whether he chooses to stay with Red Bull, move to Mercedes, or perhaps consider a surprise move to another team, the prevailing belief is that he will continue to shape Formula 1 for several more seasons, likely chasing that elusive fifth championship.
The upcoming Miami Grand Prix, set for May 1‑3, will be the season’s second sprint weekend and will provide another stage for Verstappen to demonstrate his dominance—or perhaps hint at his future intentions. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely, not just for the race results but for any subtle signals about the Dutchman’s long‑term plans.
In the meantime, Norris, Piastri, and the wider paddock will continue to race against a driver they regard as the benchmark of excellence, fully aware that his presence elevates the competition and enriches the spectacle for everyone involved.