Lando Norris believes that the departure of four‑time champion Max Verstappen would be a genuine loss for his fellow competitors and for Formula 1 as a whole, yet he is confident the Dutch driver will "stay longer than people say." Norris’ comments came during a McLaren media day where he and teammate Oscar Piastri, both of whom challenged Verstappen for the 2023 title, were asked to weigh in on the Red Bull star'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," the Brit said.
He praised Verstappen’s candour, noting that the champion has never shied away from 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, and I think that's a great way to live," Norris added. The young 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 see in Formula 1 ever," Norris said.
He went on to explain that, despite the frustration Verstappen causes his rivals on the track, racing against a multiple‑champion is a privilege. "He's always good fun to race against and 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," Norris concluded, emphasizing that Verstappen's exit would be a loss for everyone involved.
When the conversation turned to the upcoming 2026 technical regulations, Norris expressed mixed feelings. He noted that the new hybrid power units, which will split power 50‑50 between internal combustion and electric sources, have generated a range of reactions among drivers.
"For the newcomers, the cars are amazing. For those of us who have driven the previous generation, it's a different experience because we have something to compare against," he explained. He added that the transition is subjective and that drivers will adapt over time. Norris also hinted at Verstappen's ambitions, recalling a recent comment from the Dutchman about aiming for a fifth title.
"He said he wants to win a fifth world championship, so I'm sure he'll stay longer than people say," Norris said, suggesting that Verstappen’s competitive drive will keep him in the sport for the foreseeable future. Oscar Piastri echoed a similar sentiment. "It would be a shame for the sport to lose Max, especially at this stage of his career," the Australian said. He highlighted that drivers thrive on competing against the very best, and Verstappen has set the benchmark for the past five or six years.
"Losing him would be a big loss for the sport as a whole," Piastri added. The discussion of Verstappen’s future intensified after news emerged that his long‑time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will join McLaren in 2028 once his Red Bull contract expires.
Verstappen’s own deal 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. Speculation about where Verstappen might go if he leaves Red Bull has long centred on Mercedes, with talks between the two parties reported over the past two years. The recent appointment of Lambiase by McLaren has raised the question of whether the Woking outfit could become a more attractive destination. When Sky Sports asked McLaren chief executive Zak Brown about the possibility, Brown 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." Brown admitted that if a seat were to open, Verstappen would be a massive talent, but he did not anticipate such a scenario. "If I had to bet, I'd say to Mercedes," he said, reinforcing the prevailing view that the German team remains the most likely alternative for the Dutch champion. Regarding Lambiase’s move, Brown stressed that McLaren would respect his existing contract with Red Bull. "There's always a chance, but he has a contract and we're going to respect that.
If Red Bull need a solution, we would be open to a dialogue, but we're prepared to wait until 2028," he explained. Overall, both Norris and Piastri underscored how much they value racing against Verstappen. They see him not only as a formidable opponent but also as a benchmark that pushes the entire grid to improve.
Their comments suggest that, while uncertainty surrounds the regulatory changes and contractual nuances, the consensus among his peers is that Verstappen’s passion for winning will keep him in Formula 1 longer than many observers anticipate. The sport, they agree, would be poorer without his presence on the grid.