Norris Says He Respects Verstappen 'For Now': 'Ask Me Again At The End Of Year'

Sunday, 17 November 2024 at 14:00

McLaren's driver Lando Norris suggested he is unsure about his relationship with the Championship rival Max Verstappen but respects him "for now."

Lando Norris was very good friends with Max Verstappen before the start of the 2024 season, but their Championship rivalry took its toll on their relationship.

Following a huge improvement in McLaren's performance in Miami, the two suddenly found themselves going head-to-head for the title.

While Verstappen suggested he thinks his friendship with Noris remains the same, multiple very tense on-track moments left the McLaren driver upset, and he isn't sure where they stand at the moment.

When asked whether all the on-track drama is impacting his relationship with the 27-year-old Red Bull Racing F1 driver, Norris told F1TV:

"I don't know, I'm split. In some ways, you kind of think how someone can be personally and how you can get along with people, can be so different to how you are on track."

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"It's such a different world there on the track to here doing this [in the paddock]. It's my first time being in this situation, and time will tell how that changes."

"But for now I still respect Max, I think he respects me, but maybe ask me again at the end of the year."

The two F1 drivers used to fly to Grand Prix weekends together, but according to Ralf Schumacher, that isn't happening anymore, which would suggest there is a bit of tension, although there can be other reasons for that as well.

Following their controversial battle at the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix, Norris said he hoped the triple World Champion would acknowledge that he went too far. Concerning battles like these, the McLaren driver now said:

"He's doing what he believes is best, which is fair dos. It might not always be the right thing, but we always do what we believe is right and we always do what we believe is the best at that time."