Lando Norris thinks Max Verstappen's potential departure from Formula 1 would be a significant loss for the sport, but he believes the four-time world champion will stay in the sport longer than anticipated. Verstappen's future in F1 is uncertain due to his criticism of the 2026 regulations and his dissatisfaction with the current driving style required by the cars. However, Norris feels that Verstappen has earned the right to make his own decisions and will likely stay in the sport to pursue his fifth world championship. Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri, who competed against Verstappen for the world title last year, shared their thoughts on Verstappen's future at a McLaren media event.
Piastri agreed that losing Verstappen would be a significant blow to the sport, especially given his status as one of the best drivers in F1. The focus on Verstappen's future has intensified with the announcement that his long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will join McLaren in 2028. While Verstappen's contract with Red Bull runs until the end of the 2028 season, there are performance clauses that could allow him to leave earlier. If he were to leave Red Bull, Mercedes is considered a likely destination, but McLaren's signing of Lambiase may also make them a potential contender.