Fresh off clinching his fourth consecutive Formula 1 world championship, Max Verstappen ignited a new conversation with a cheeky declaration: he could have secured the title even faster if he had driven Lando Norris’s McLaren. The comment, made in the euphoric aftermath of the Las Vegas GP, struck a nerve and quickly traveled to the paddock in Qatar, where Norris fired back with his trademark humor and competitive edge.
Norris: “He Should Start Comedy”
When Verstappen’s remarks reached Norris, the McLaren ace didn’t hold back:
“He should start comedy or something,” Norris laughed. “He can say whatever he wants. Of course, I completely disagree, as I would. He’s good, but… it’s not true.”
The quick-witted retort, however, belies the weight of the question: could Verstappen, in a McLaren, have closed the deal on the 2024 title faster than he did with Red Bull?
The Analyst’s Angle: Verstappen’s Hypothetical McLaren Championship
F1 pundit Carlos Freeman of The Race believes Verstappen’s claim holds water. Freeman posits that Verstappen’s unmatched ability to maximize opportunities—even during Red Bull’s mid-season struggles—makes him uniquely suited for such a feat.
“Verstappen almost papered over how quickly Red Bull’s decline set in around May and June. Because we saw him winning again, we felt the Red Bull was still the best car,” Freeman said. “Anybody else would not have maximized all those weekends where the Red Bull wasn’t very good. I don’t think anyone else puts in that Brazil drive that effectively sealed the championship.”
Freeman speculated that Verstappen’s deep championship experience and racecraft could have exploited McLaren’s rapid improvement even more effectively than Norris, resulting in an earlier title.
“If Max is in the McLaren, he doesn’t have as much ground to make up on a Red Bull driver as Lando did, because anyone else in the Red Bull wouldn’t have been able to build the lead Verstappen had,” Freeman added.
Verstappen: “No One Needs to Respond”
While the debate gathered steam, Verstappen sought to put an end to the back-and-forth:
“No one needs to respond. I know perfectly well for myself what I can and cannot do,” Verstappen told reporters. “The championship is done. We all try again next year.”
When pressed about Norris’s response and their budding rivalry, Verstappen steered clear of adding fuel to the fire:
“We don’t need to spend time trying to slag people off. The championship is done.”
Respect Between Friends and Rivals
Despite their first serious title battle occasionally brimming with tension, Verstappen and Norris maintain that their off-track friendship remains intact. Norris reflected on their camaraderie:
“There were some tougher moments, but we’re still good friends. We had a nice word with each other after the race last weekend. I still have a lot of respect for him and everything he’s done. From my side, all good.”
The Verdict? The Debate Continues
While Verstappen and Norris have chosen to downplay any brewing rivalry, the paddock and fans are left wondering: Could Verstappen’s unique talents have conquered the championship even sooner in a McLaren? Or does Norris deserve credit for squeezing every ounce of performance from his team’s remarkable resurgence?
One thing’s for certain—this debate only adds to the intrigue heading into 2025, where the Verstappen-Norris rivalry could elevate to new heights.
