Lando Norris believes that the departure of four‑time world champion Max Verstappen would be a significant loss for both his fellow drivers and the sport as a whole, yet he is confident that the Dutch star 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 forthcoming 2026 regulations and expressed dissatisfaction with the way the current cars have been handled ahead of the rule changes slated to debut at next week’s Miami Grand Prix. During a McLaren media session on Wednesday, world champion Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri – both of whom challenged Verstappen for the 2023 title – were asked to weigh in on the Red Bull driver’s outlook.
Norris began by acknowledging Verstappen’s right to make his own decisions, noting, "Max has earned the right to go and do whatever he wants. He's won four world championships." He praised Verstappen’s candor, saying the Dutchman has always been outspoken, regardless of whether his opinions are popular. "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," Norris remarked. Norris warned that losing Verstappen would be a blow to Formula 1, describing him as "one of the best drivers you’ll ever see in the sport." He added that, while Verstappen makes life "incredibly tough" for his rivals, racing against a four‑time champion is also "good fun" and a privilege. "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," he concluded.
The conversation then shifted to the new 2026 technical package, which will feature a 50‑50 split between internal‑combustion engines and electric power. Norris admitted that opinions on the new machinery are mixed.
He observed that newcomers to Formula 1 often describe the cars as "sick," whereas veterans who have spent years in the previous generation have a point of comparison that makes the transition feel more nuanced. "It’s relative for different people," he said, noting that seasoned drivers may find the change more challenging. Nevertheless, Norris expressed optimism about Verstappen’s continued ambition. He recalled hearing the champion say he wants to chase a fifth title, which suggests that the Dutchman is unlikely to retire soon.
"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 asserted. 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 driver said. He emphasized that drivers thrive on competing against the very best, and Verstappen has set the benchmark for the last five or six years. "For everyone it would be a pretty big shame and obviously not a great look," Piastri added. The discussion of Verstappen’s future intensified after news broke that his long‑time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will join McLaren in 2028 once his Red Bull contract expires.
Lambiase has been a key confidant for Verstappen, and his impending move has fueled speculation about where the champion might end up should he decide to leave Red Bull. Verstappen’s current contract with Red Bull runs through the end of the 2028 season, but it contains performance‑related clauses that could allow an early exit if certain targets are not met. Over the past two years, there have been rumors that Mercedes could be a likely destination for Verstappen if he parts ways with Red Bull, given the historic rivalry between the two teams and ongoing behind‑the‑scenes talks. McLaren’s chief executive Zak Brown was asked whether Lambiase’s arrival could make the Woking‑based outfit a serious contender for Verstappen’s services.
Brown replied enthusiastically about his current driver lineup, stating, "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 any of our two superstars." He did, however, acknowledge that if a driver were to leave, Verstappen would be a massive talent to consider.
"If I had to bet, I’d say to Mercedes," Brown said when asked where Verstappen might go. Regarding Lambiase’s move, Brown clarified that McLaren respects the existing contract and will wait until 2028 before pursuing any discussions: "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 that’s in place we’d be 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." As the sport heads toward the Miami Grand Prix – the second Sprint weekend of the season – fans will be watching closely to see how Verstappen’s relationship with Red Bull evolves, how the new 2026 regulations are received, and whether any of the rumored team switches materialise. The upcoming races will provide further clues about the Dutch champion’s intentions and the broader strategic landscape of Formula 1 as it navigates a period of technical transformation and driver market speculation.