Lando Norris believes that the departure of four‑time world champion Max Verstappen would be felt deeply across the paddock and among fans, yet he is confident the Dutch driver will continue racing for longer than many anticipate. Norris, who alongside his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri contested Verstappen for the 2023 title, shared his thoughts during a McLaren media session on Wednesday, emphasizing both Verstappen's impact on the sport and the likelihood that he will stay on the grid well beyond the current season. Norris began by acknowledging Verstappen’s right to decide his own future: "Max has earned the right to go and do whatever he wants.
He’s won four world championships, and he’s always been the kind of driver who speaks his mind, regardless of whether people agree with him or not. He lives authentically, and that’s a great way to live your life." He went on to stress that losing Verstappen would be a genuine loss for 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," Norris said.
He added that while Verstappen makes life “incredibly tough” for his rivals, he also provides a compelling challenge: "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 yes, it would be a loss for the sport." The conversation then turned to the upcoming 2026 regulations, which introduce a hybrid power unit split roughly 50‑50 between internal‑combustion and electric power. Norris admitted that drivers’ opinions on the new cars are mixed. "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," he explained.
He expressed optimism that the package will improve over time and hinted at Verstappen’s own ambitions: "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." Oscar Piastri echoed Norris’s sentiment, describing Verstappen’s potential exit as a “big loss for the sport as a whole.” Piastri emphasized the importance of having a benchmark driver to measure against: "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. 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 of Verstappen’s future intensified after news broke that his long‑time race engineer and confidant Gianpiero Lambiase will join McLaren in 2028, once his Red Bull contract expires. Lambiase has been a key figure in Verstappen’s success, and his impending move has added another layer of speculation about where the Dutch champion might end up if he ever leaves Red Bull. Verstappen’s current deal 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.
Historically, Mercedes has been viewed as the most probable destination for Verstappen should he decide to switch teams. Negotiations between Red Bull and Mercedes have reportedly taken place over the past two years, keeping the rumor mill active. The recent Lambiase announcement raises the question of whether McLaren could become a serious contender for Verstappen’s services. When Sky Sports News asked McLaren chief executive Zak Brown about the possibility, 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." Brown also addressed the timing of Lambiase’s move, noting that the engineer is under contract with Red Bull until 2028 and that McLaren will respect that agreement. He 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 obviously need to I presume have a solution and then once and if that’s in place, we’re 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 contractual details, Norris highlighted the broader impact of Verstappen’s presence on the sport’s popularity and competitive landscape. He noted that Verstappen’s willingness to speak out on rule changes, his aggressive driving style, and his relentless pursuit of performance have helped elevate Formula 1’s global profile.
"He’s not just a driver; he’s a personality that draws fans in, whether they love him or love to hate him. That kind of magnetism is rare," Norris said. "Losing him would mean losing a huge part of what makes the championship exciting for casual viewers and hardcore fans alike." The conversation also touched on the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, the second sprint weekend of the season, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
Norris expressed excitement about the race, noting that the sprint format adds an extra strategic element that can benefit drivers who excel under pressure—something Verstappen has demonstrated repeatedly. In summary, both Norris and Piastri view Verstappen as an integral figure in modern Formula 1, and they anticipate that his career will extend beyond the expectations of many observers.
While the 2026 regulation changes and contractual nuances create uncertainty, the consensus among his peers is that Verstappen’s drive to win, combined with his desire to secure a fifth world title, will keep him competing at the highest level for years to come. The sport, fans, and fellow drivers would all feel the impact if he ever chose to step away, making his continued presence a cornerstone of the championship’s narrative moving forward.