This season, Lando Norris has emerged as a formidable challenger to Max Verstappen. Since the Grand Prix in Miami, the Englishman has been driving one of the fastest cars on the grid, denying his Dutch rival multiple victories. With six races left, Norris needs to make up fifty-two points to dethrone Verstappen. How does he balance his friendship with Verstappen with this newfound rivalry?
Despite the intensifying competition between them, Norris emphasizes that his relationship with Verstappen has not cooled. However, their friendship will not influence his approach on the track. “As soon as I put on the helmet, I hate everyone,” the McLaren driver told The Athletic. “That doesn’t change.” Despite their long-standing friendship, Verstappen remains a competitor on the track.
“Many people think that you’re best buddies in a race just because you get along well,” Norris explained. “But that’s nonsense. We have the same interests, we game together, and we play padel. I really like Max (Verstappen), I find him one of the most sincere people I know. But that changes nothing on the circuit.”
‘You Want to Win Against Your Friends’
Norris added that his friendship with Verstappen actually motivates him to beat him. “You want to win against the people you get along well with,” said the 24-year-old Brit. “That’s probably the opposite of what many people think. They assume you’re always nice to each other because you’re such good friends. But I see it the other way around.”
In the last two Grands Prix in Azerbaijan and Singapore, Lando Norris managed to keep championship leader Verstappen behind him. As a result, the Dutchman’s lead has shrunk to ‘only’ fifty-two points. Norris hopes to further close the gap on the title holder in the final stages of the season.
