Lando Norris brushed off remarks made by Max Verstappen, who suggested the Formula 1 championship “would have been over a long time ago” if he were driving Norris’s McLaren this season. Norris countered the comment, saying Verstappen was “just talking nonsense” and that such comparisons make little sense.
“He can say what he wants, but that’s just not how racing works,” Norris said. “It’s easy to make those claims when you’re not in the car.”
McLaren has shown steady progress throughout the year, pushing Red Bull for podiums and occasional wins. Norris noted that consistency, teamwork, and upgrades—not hypothetical scenarios—decide the championship’s course.
“Every driver likes to think they could do better, but F1 isn’t just about one person,” he added. “It’s the whole package — car, team, timing, everything.”
Verstappen, already a multiple world champion, remains dominant but has faced stronger competition this season from both McLaren and Ferrari. Norris’s comments highlight growing confidence within McLaren as they close the gap on Red Bull’s pace.
“We’re focused on improving every weekend,” Norris concluded. “There’s no point in getting distracted by talk. The results will speak for themselves.”
Author summary: Norris downplayed Verstappen’s claim, stressing that Formula 1 success depends on teamwork and car development rather than hypothetical comparisons between drivers.