Lando Norris believes that the departure of four‑time world champion Max Verstappen would be a genuine loss for his fellow competitors and for Formula One as a whole, yet he is confident the Dutch driver will "stay longer than people say." Norris highlighted Verstappen's unique blend of talent, candour and competitive spirit, suggesting that his continued presence will keep the sport vibrant for years to come. The uncertainty surrounding Verstappen's future beyond the current season has been amplified by his outspoken criticism of the upcoming 2026 regulations. He has expressed dissatisfaction with the way the current cars have been driven and with the transitional period before the new technical tweaks are introduced at next week’s Miami Grand Prix. These comments have fueled speculation about whether the Red Bull driver might consider stepping away once his existing contract expires.

During a McLaren media day, world champion Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri – both of whom challenged Verstappen for the title last year – were asked to weigh in on the Dutchman's long‑term prospects. Norris began by acknowledging Verstappen's right to chart 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, not just now. 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." He went on to stress the impact Verstappen would have on the sport if he were to leave: "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. 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 upcoming 2026 power‑unit formula, which will feature a 50‑50 split between internal‑combustion and electric power.

He noted that opinions on the new cars are subjective: "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 miss Verstappen: "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. 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. 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 conversation around Verstappen's future intensified 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.

Lambiase has been a pivotal figure in Verstappen's success, and his impending move has added another layer of intrigue to the speculation. Verstappen's current 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.

Should he decide to leave Red Bull, Mercedes has long been seen as the most likely destination, with discussions reportedly taking place over the past two years. The recent hiring of Lambiase by McLaren also raises the question of whether the Woking‑based team could become a viable alternative for Verstappen in the future.

When Sky Sports News asked McLaren chief executive Zak Brown about the potential impact of Lambiase's arrival, 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. Where might he go?

If I had to bet, I'd say to Mercedes." Brown added that while McLaren would be open to discussions about Lambiase joining earlier than 2028, they would respect his existing contract: "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 immediate contractual considerations, Norris's comments reflect a broader sentiment within the paddock: Verstappen's blend of raw speed, strategic acumen and unapologetic honesty makes him a magnet for fans and a benchmark for competitors. His willingness to speak his mind, even when it courts controversy, has helped shape modern F1 discourse.

As the sport moves toward a hybrid‑heavy future in 2026, drivers like Verstappen will be instrumental in guiding the transition and ensuring that the spectacle remains compelling. The upcoming Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 1‑3, will be the second Sprint weekend of the season and will offer another platform for Verstappen to showcase his talent. Whether he continues with Red Bull, moves to Mercedes, or perhaps even considers a surprise shift to McLaren, the consensus among his peers is clear: his presence elevates the competition, and the sport would be poorer without him.

As Norris succinctly put it, "He wants to win a fifth world championship at the minute, so I'm sure he'll stay longer than people say."