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 that the Dutch driver will "stay longer than people say". The question of Verstappen's future beyond the current season has been a hot topic ever since the champion voiced criticism of the upcoming 2026 technical regulations and expressed frustration with the way the current cars have had to be driven before the planned adjustments are introduced.
Those tweaks, aimed at improving various aspects of the sport, are slated to debut 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 star’s long‑term plans. Norris began by acknowledging Verstappen’s right to decide his own path: "Max has earned the right to go and do whatever he wants.
He's won four world championships. He's always been that guy – outspoken, honest, and unapologetic about his opinions, whether people agree with him or not. He lives his life on his own terms, and I think that's a great way to live." He went on to stress how much the sport would miss him if he ever chose to walk 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." Norris also reflected on the personal impact Verstappen has on his rivals: "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 cool to line up next to someone who has won four championships – you always want to test yourself against the very best, and Max is definitely among them. So yes, losing him would be a loss for the sport." When the conversation shifted to the new 2026 power units – a hybrid package that splits output 50‑50 between a conventional internal‑combustion engine and an electric system – Norris admitted that drivers’ opinions will vary. "I think it's relative for different people," he said. "When you see the newcomers in their first year, they’re like, ‘these cars are sick!’ For those of us who have spent a season in the old machinery, we have a point of comparison, and it feels different for everyone." Nevertheless, Norris is optimistic about the direction of the regulations and Verstappen’s ambition: "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.
"It would be a shame for the sport to lose Max, especially at this stage of his career. It would be a big loss for Formula 1 as a whole," the Australian driver said.
"We drivers want to race against the best and prove ourselves against the best, and Max has demonstrated his calibre over the last ten years. In the past five or six years he’s set the benchmark, so losing him would be a huge disappointment and would not look good for the sport." The discussion about Verstappen’s future intensified two weeks earlier when it was announced that his long‑time race engineer and confidant Gianpiero Lambiase will join McLaren in 2028 after his contract with Red Bull expires. Lambiase has been a key figure in Verstappen’s success, and his impending move adds another layer of speculation about where the champion might end up.
Verstappen’s own 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 he decide to leave Red Bull, the most frequently mentioned destination has been Mercedes, with negotiations reportedly taking place over the past two years.
McLaren’s chief executive Zak Brown was asked whether Lambiase’s arrival could make the Woking outfit a serious contender for Verstappen in the future. 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 presumably need to have a solution, and 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." In summary, both Norris and Piastri see Verstappen as a benchmark driver whose continued presence would benefit the sport, its fans, and their own development as racers.
While contractual nuances and the upcoming hybrid regulations add uncertainty, the prevailing view among his peers is that Verstappen’s ambition and competitive spirit will keep him in Formula 1 longer than many observers anticipate. The upcoming Miami Grand Prix, the second sprint weekend of the season, will provide yet another platform for Verstappen to demonstrate why he remains one of the sport’s most compelling figures.