“He should start comedy”: Norris reacts to Verstappen’s bold claims – Fresh from clinching his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship title, Max Verstappen is never short of confidence. After clinching the title in Las Vegas last weekend, Verstappen made a bold statement to the media, saying he believed he could have won the championship this year even if he was driving for McLaren or Ferrari.

His comments sparked a flurry of reactions, particularly from rival drivers Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, who weren’t shy about sharing their thoughts.

 

 

 

Verstappen’s confidence knows no bounds

When asked during the media session if he could have won the championship in a McLaren, Verstappen didn’t hesitate.

“Yes, even earlier,” he joked, suggesting his dominance in a McLaren could have materialised earlier. As for Ferrari, he remarked that his path to victory “would have been similar”.

This bold self-assessment was greeted with amusement and scepticism by his peers. At the media day in Qatar, Norris and Leclerc were confronted with Verstappen’s comments. Their responses painted a very different picture of the realities of driving in F1.

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“He should start in comedy or something,” Lando Norris joked with a grin, adding a humorous edge to his disagreement.

“He can say whatever he wants. Obviously, I totally disagree with him,” the McLaren driver said firmly.

Norris interpreted Verstappen’s comment as a suggestion that McLaren and Ferrari drivers have failed to get the most out of their cars this season. He dismissed the notion as “simply not true”, arguing that both he and his rivals had performed to the best of their abilities in the circumstances.

Charles Leclerc echoed Norris’ sentiments, but adopted a more measured tone. While acknowledging Verstappen’s unique ability, the Ferrari driver stressed the difficulty of making such claims without first-hand knowledge of another team’s car.

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Leclerc: “He doesn’t know our car”

Leclerc was quick to point out the speculative nature of Verstappen’s comments.

“Max is a very special driver,” the Monegasque admitted.

“And I think what makes him so special is the confidence he has.”

However, he warned against making sweeping statements without understanding the intricacies of a rival’s machine. “I don’t know what the Red Bull is like. I don’t know what the McLaren is like. And he doesn’t know what the Ferrari is like,” explained Leclerc.

He diplomatically described Verstappen’s claim as “maybe a bit of a stretch”, highlighting the complexity of comparing cars without direct experience. For Leclerc, Verstappen’s confidence is undeniable, but so is the nuance required in such assessments.

Norris, in his characteristically outspoken style, doubled down on his stance by highlighting Red Bull’s dominance as a team.

“Red Bull would probably have won the Constructors’ Championship if they had two drivers as good as Max, that’s for sure,” he remarked.

This, Norris argued, demonstrated the team’s excellence in car development. However, he also questioned whether Verstappen’s undisputed status within the team had played a role in his success.

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The impact of a weak teammate

The dynamic within Red Bull has often been questioned, with Sergio Perez unable to mount a meaningful challenge to Verstappen throughout the season. Norris suggested that having a less competitive teammate has both advantages and disadvantages.

“He doesn’t have anyone pushing him,” Norris noted. This lack of internal competition means that Red Bull cannot rely on two-driver feedback for car development, often referred to as “AB testing”.

“The data isn’t as valuable if you don’t have someone driving at the same level,” explains Norris.

But it also removes internal pressure for Verstappen, allowing him to focus solely on external rivals.

“There’s a certain comfort in that,” admitted Norris, although he added that some drivers, including himself, thrive on the pressure of competing against a strong teammate.

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Verstappen’s unique position

While praising Verstappen’s consistency and skill, Norris hinted at the challenges of driving without a teammate capable of pushing him to the limit.

“It makes life difficult for him, also from a team perspective,” said Norris. At the same time, he expressed the hope that Verstappen will have a more competitive teammate in the future.

“I hope that at some point he will have a [teammate] who can challenge him a little bit more,” Norris said. He acknowledged that Verstappen has beaten every teammate he has faced, but suggested that internal competition could add an extra dimension to his already remarkable career.

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Friendship over rivalry

Despite the sharp comments, Norris insisted that his friendship with Verstappen remains intact. Asked if their relationship had been strained during the season, he dismissed the notion.

“No. There have been a few tougher moments, but we are still good friends,” said Norris.

The Briton recounted a positive interaction with Verstappen after the Las Vegas race.

“We had a nice chat after the race last weekend. I still have a lot of respect for him and everything he’s done,” said Norris, insisting that their competitive rivalry has not affected their personal relationship.

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The debate continues

Verstappen’s claims, while bold, reflect his unwavering confidence and belief in his abilities. For Norris and Leclerc, however, his comments underline the importance of context and the challenges of comparing performances between teams with vastly different cars.

As F1 continues to evolve, the debate over driver skill versus machine advantage remains a central theme. While Verstappen’s dominance is undeniable, his comments have reignited discussions about the nuances of success in one of the world’s most competitive sports.

For now, the banter between the drivers adds another layer of entertainment to the sport, proving that even in a high-stakes environment, a touch of humour can lighten the load.

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Two years on from the FIA launching its application process for new competitors to join Formula One, General Motors has been approved to race from 2026 onwards. The FIA approved the Andretti Global application over a year ago, but it failed to gain approval from the Liberty media Formula One Management (FOM).

In the statement it said: “Our assessment process has established that the presence of an 11th team would not, on its own, provide value to the championship. The most significant way in which a new entrant would bring value is by being competitive. We do not believe that the applicant would be a competitive participant.”

Yet almost twelve months later FOM have done an about turn allowing the Andretti based organisation to compete from 2026. So what happened to change their minds?…. READ MORE