Lando Norris believes that the departure of four‑time world champion Max Verstappen would be felt keenly by his peers and by Formula 1 as a whole, yet he is confident the Dutch driver will "stay longer than people say." Norris’s comments come amid ongoing speculation about Verstappen’s future, especially as he has voiced criticism of the upcoming 2026 regulations and expressed dissatisfaction with the way the current cars have been handled ahead of the rule changes that are set to roll out from next week’s Miami Grand Prix. During a McLaren media event on Wednesday, both Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri – who were Verstappen’s main challengers for the title last season – were asked to weigh in on the Red Bull star’s prospects. Norris began by acknowledging Verstappen’s right to make his own choices: "Max has earned the right to go and do whatever he wants. He's won four world championships." He highlighted the Dutchman’s habit of speaking his mind, regardless of whether others agree, and praised his authenticity as a model for how to live.
Norris went on to stress how much the sport would lose if Verstappen ever decided to step 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. 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 yes, it would be a loss for the sport." The discussion then shifted to the upcoming 2026 car specifications, which will feature a 50‑50 split between internal combustion and electric power. Norris admitted that reactions to the new machinery 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, noting the broader impact on the sport: "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." Interest in Verstappen’s future intensified a fortnight earlier 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.
Verstappen’s own deal with Red Bull runs through the end of the 2028 season, although it contains performance‑based clauses that could allow an early exit if certain targets are not met. Should Verstappen decide to move on, Mercedes has long been viewed as the most probable destination, with informal talks between the two camps reported over the past two years.
The recent appointment of Lambiase by McLaren, however, raises the question of whether the Woking outfit could become a serious contender for the Dutchman’s services. When Sky Sports News asked McLaren CEO Zak Brown about the possibility, he 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 added that while Lambiase’s move to McLaren before 2028 is theoretically possible, the team will 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." The conversation underscores the broader uncertainty surrounding the 2026 regulation overhaul, which aims to balance performance, sustainability and cost control.
Drivers like Norris have expressed mixed feelings: while the new hybrid power units promise a greener future, the transition period could create a performance gap that may affect competitive balance. Nonetheless, both Norris and Piastri agree that Verstappen’s continued presence would help maintain a high standard of competition and provide a benchmark for emerging talent. As the calendar moves toward the Miami Grand Prix – the second Sprint weekend of the season – fans will be watching not only the on‑track action but also the off‑track developments that could shape the next few years of Formula 1. Whether Verstappen chooses to stay at Red Bull, switch to Mercedes, or even consider a surprise move to McLaren, his influence on the sport remains undeniable, and his decision will reverberate through teams, drivers and supporters worldwide.