Lando Norris is the latest in a growing list of F1 figures to comment on the ongoing rumors surrounding Max Verstappen. The Dutchman is increasingly being linked to a potential move to Mercedes. However, for Norris, it doesn’t matter which team his competitor eventually ends up with. ‘He is the boss of where he decides to go,’ says the Brit, who does enjoy the battles with Verstappen on the track.
The rumors of a possible move by Max Verstappen to Mercedes were rekindled after George Russell confirmed that his racing team is indeed in talks with the four-time world champion. On the eve of the British Grand Prix, the rumor is still a topic of discussion, and McLaren driver Lando Norris was also asked to give his opinion on it.
However, the British driver is not particularly concerned about the potential future of his Dutch rival at Mercedes. “Honestly, I don’t really care,” the now seven-time Grand Prix winner tells Sky Sports F1 at the McLaren Racing Live event in London. “I don’t care where he goes, but I appreciate Max Verstappen as a competitor. We sometimes race hard, but I do enjoy our battles. And as he already said, he is in charge of where he decides to go. Max will go where he thinks is best.”
‘Not Winning the Title is Not a Failure’
For now, Norris is still in a good position at McLaren, especially since the team currently leads both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. It’s only teammate Oscar Piastri who holds the lead with a fifteen-point advantage. If the Australian also wins the title this year, would the season be a failure for Norris?
“I would not have achieved my goal, but I don’t think you can ever call it a failure,” Norris tells The Independent. “If it were much easier and you didn’t achieve your goal, you might call that a failure. But it’s such a long season, where you’re up against the best in the world. I don’t think you can ever call not winning the title a failure.”
