Lando Norris reflects on the challenges of balancing respect and rivalry with Max Verstappen as their F1 competition intensifies this season.
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are friends off the track before being rivals at the highest level of motorsport, Formula 1. However, this year, they have fought hard in races, leading to incidents (in Austria) and questionable maneuvers (in Austin and Mexico).
When asked about how their distant battle for the title might have affected their friendship, the McLaren F1 driver remained cautious, suggesting that life in the paddock can differ from what happens on the track.
“I don’t know; I’m torn,” responded the McLaren driver. “In some ways, you can think that how someone is personally and how they get along with others can be so different from how they are on track.”
“It’s such a different world on track and here. It’s the first time I’ve been in this situation, and time will tell how it evolves. But for now, I still respect Max, and I think he respects me too, though maybe you’ll have to ask me again at the end of the year!”
Norris has faced the same illegal defensive moves from Verstappen as Lewis Hamilton did in 2021, showing that the Red Bull driver is feeling the pressure. Norris is pleased to be pushing him to his limits and believes this is what’s necessary to beat Red Bull and Verstappen.
“It’s a compliment, for sure. But he’s doing what he believes is best, which is fair. It might not always be the right thing to do, but we always do what we think is right and what we believe is best at the time.”
“He’s doing what it takes to try and keep me behind him in the championship because he’s under pressure, Red Bull is under pressure, they’re not at the top anymore. We’ve overtaken them; Ferrari has overtaken them. They’re doing their best, we’re doing our best, and the more pressure we put on them, the more they’ll make these kinds of mistakes.”
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Norris Questions Verstappen Friendship Amid F1 Rivalry Norris Questions Verstappen Friendship Amid F1 Rivalry
