Lando Norris has addressed recent reports suggesting that Max Verstappen’s management held informal talks with McLaren about a possible future move. While Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull Racing until the end of 2028, Norris sees these discussions as a sign of McLaren’s growing appeal within the Formula 1® paddock.
According to Norris, the interest from top drivers like Verstappen reflects positively on McLaren’s progress and reputation. He acknowledged that many drivers are attracted to the team, not just Verstappen, and this is encouraging for the squad’s future. Norris also expressed enthusiasm about his own ongoing multi-year contract with McLaren and his partnership with teammate Oscar Piastri.
There have been earlier rumours about a potential driver swap involving Piastri moving to Red Bull and Verstappen joining McLaren, but McLaren’s Team Principal Andrea Stella has dismissed these claims, reaffirming confidence in the current driver lineup. Verstappen’s contract situation remains unchanged, and the talks mentioned were described as informal and exploratory rather than concrete negotiations.
Norris highlighted his confidence in his own ability to compete with any driver on the grid, including Verstappen, whom he praised for his consistency and performance over entire seasons. He welcomed the challenge of racing alongside elite drivers such as Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, or Fernando Alonso, seeing it as a motivating factor rather than a threat.
Another point of interest is that Verstappen’s long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is set to join McLaren in 2028, which adds an intriguing element to the team’s future technical setup. However, this move is separate from any driver changes and does not imply an immediate shift in Verstappen’s status.
Overall, Norris remains focused on his current role at McLaren and the progress the team is making. He views the growing interest from top drivers as a positive sign of McLaren’s rising stature in the sport, while also maintaining confidence in his own capabilities and the stability of the team’s driver lineup.
