Jos Verstappen foresees rising tensions as his son Max and Lando Norris face challenges that could strain their friendship over time.
Even though Max Verstappen claims otherwise, his father, former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, stated it would be “difficult” for his son and Lando Norris to remain friends in the future.
The two drivers have clashed several times during the 2024 F1 season but have continued to emphasize that their friendship remains intact.
Their first serious incident occurred late in the Austrian Grand Prix at Turn 3, which saw Norris retire from the race while George Russell claimed a surprise victory.
Verstappen and Norris also had a tight battle during the U.S. Grand Prix and in Mexico.
With McLaren now fielding an F1 car capable of challenging the four-time world champion, Max’s father predicts new challenges for the friendship between his son and Norris.
“I think it will become increasingly difficult between the two of them. Of course, for a long time, it was the world title at stake.”
“Max knows what that means, and he’s quite comfortable with it. He understands the balance between their mutual relationship off the track and on it. He’s very mature about it. But I don’t know how Lando is.”
Most drivers on this year’s F1 grid get along well, apart from a few recent incidents. This marks a shift from Jos Verstappen’s era, where the Dutchman revealed he chose not to have friends in the paddock.
“When I look back on my Formula 1 career, I had no friends. At least not in a way that I kept in touch with them afterward. Not at all. I choose my friends myself.”
“It seems to me that most guys on the grid get along well off the track. Most of them have known each other for a long time through karting.”
“There are about ten guys Max has always karted with. So, they are a bit closer to each other, but everyone has their own life and does their thing.”
“Still, Max is a social guy off the track, and he’s nice and normal with everyone. In my time, relationships between drivers were quite different.”
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Max and Norris: Tensions May Test Their Friendship Max and Norris: Tensions May Test Their Friendship
