Lando Norris believes that the departure of four‑time world champion Max Verstappen would be a significant loss for his fellow drivers and for Formula 1 as a whole, yet he is confident the Dutch star will "stay longer than people say." Norris’ comments came during a McLaren media session where he and teammate Oscar Piastri, both of whom challenged Verstappen for the 2023 title, were asked to weigh in on the Red Bull driver’s future. 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 highlighted the Dutchman's reputation for speaking his mind, regardless of whether his opinions are popular. "He’s always been very open about what he thinks, whether you agree or not.
He’s himself, and I think that’s a great way to live," Norris said. The British driver warned that losing Verstappen would be a blow to the sport. "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 ever see in Formula 1," he added.
Norris also admitted that while Verstappen makes life "incredibly tough" for his rivals, racing against a four‑time champion is also exhilarating. "He’s always good fun to race against and it’s always cool to race against someone who’s won four championships. You always want to race against the best in the world, and he certainly is one of them," Norris explained, stressing that his departure would be a loss for both fans and competitors.
When the conversation turned to the upcoming 2026 technical regulations, Norris expressed mixed feelings. He noted that the new power units, which will split output 50‑50 between internal combustion and electric power, have generated a range of reactions among drivers.
"It’s relative for different people," he said. "The newcomers are thrilled – they think the cars are sick.
For those of us who have driven the current cars, we have a point of comparison, so it feels different for everyone." Nevertheless, Norris remains optimistic about Verstappen’s future. He recalled hearing the champion say he wants to chase a fifth title, which suggests the Dutchman will stay in the sport longer than many anticipate. "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," Norris affirmed.
Oscar Piastri echoed a similar sentiment. "It would be a shame for the sport to lose Max, especially at this point in his career," the Australian said. "We want to race against the best and prove ourselves, and Max has set the benchmark over the last decade, particularly the last five or six years. Losing him would be a big loss for everyone and not a great look for the sport." 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.
Verstappen’s own deal with Red Bull runs through the end of the 2028 season, though it contains performance‑related clauses that could allow an early exit if certain targets are not met. Speculation has long centered on Mercedes as the most likely destination should Verstappen ever leave Red Bull, with talks reported over the past two years. The recent Lambiase move, however, has raised the question of whether McLaren could become a serious contender for Verstappen’s services. When Sky Sports News asked McLaren CEO Zak Brown about the possibility, he 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. We have no intention of replacing either of our two superstars." Brown did not rule out a future move for Verstappen, though.
"If I had to bet, I’d say to Mercedes," he said, acknowledging the German team’s ongoing interest. Regarding Lambiase’s potential arrival before 2028, Brown stressed respect for existing contracts: "There’s always a chance, but he has a contract and we’re going to respect that.
Obviously in conversations with Red Bull, they need to have a solution, and once that’s in place we could open a dialogue. But we’re prepared to wait until ’28 and that’s what we’ll do if that’s what ends up happening." Beyond the driver‑engineer shuffle, the broader context of the 2026 regulation changes looms large. The hybrid power units will demand a new balance between combustion and electric propulsion, and many drivers, including Norris, have voiced concerns about how the cars feel and perform under the new rules. Norris pointed out that newcomers often praise the novelty, while veterans compare the new machines to the familiar characteristics of the current generation, creating a spectrum of opinions.
Regardless of the technical debates, both Norris and Piastri agree that Verstappen’s presence elevates the sport. Their admiration for his skill, competitiveness, and candid personality underscores why many believe he will continue to shape Formula 1 for years to come. As the Miami Grand Prix approaches—marking the season’s second sprint weekend—fans can look forward to seeing Verstappen in action, while the broader conversation about his long‑term future remains a compelling subplot in the ever‑evolving world of Formula 1.