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Max Verstappen Reveals He Invited Lando Norris to Red Bull due to McLaren Struggles

Arthur Ling by Arthur Ling
January 9, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Max Verstappen Reveals He Invited Lando Norris to Red Bull due to McLaren Struggles

Oracle Red Bull racing driver Max Verstappen talks to McLaren Racing driver Lando Norris after the sprint race at the Formula 1 Pirelli United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.

Max Verstappen, fresh off securing his fourth consecutive F1 Drivers’ Championship, has dropped a bombshell: he once invited Lando Norris to join him at Red Bull Racing, offering the young Briton a chance to accelerate his path to victory during McLaren’s less competitive years.

This revelation comes as the pair engaged in a thrilling on-track rivalry throughout the 2024 season, with Verstappen ultimately sealing the title in Las Vegas, two races before the season’s close. While Norris and McLaren have risen to the pinnacle of F1, now poised to claim the Constructors’ Championship, Verstappen has shed light on a missed opportunity that could have united the two stars under the same banner.


An Open Invitation from Verstappen

Reflecting on their paths, Verstappen disclosed that during a period when McLaren was struggling, he extended an open offer to Norris, encouraging him to join the Red Bull fold.

“I’ve spent, of course, quite a lot of moments with Lando before,” Verstappen revealed. “When I was already winning and he wasn’t, I always told him, ‘Your time will come. Stick to the process. I think you’re in a good team environment. If you want to win, you can come here [to Red Bull] as well.’”

Despite Verstappen’s encouragement, Norris chose to remain loyal to McLaren—a decision that has been vindicated this season as the Woking-based team surged past Red Bull to dominate the Constructors’ standings.


Norris’ Growth and Red Bull’s What-Ifs

Norris has faced his share of criticism throughout the 2024 campaign, with costly errors and strategic missteps keeping him from pushing Verstappen all the way to the championship wire. However, Verstappen stood in defense of his rival, arguing that setbacks are integral to a driver’s evolution.

“He had a great season, maybe not everything went his way this year, but that’s part of the road you’re on,” Verstappen said. “You make mistakes, you learn from them. It’s about how you bounce back.”

The Dutchman further clarified his respect for Norris, highlighting their friendship as one built on mutual admiration rather than daily camaraderie.

“We are friends now, not best friends—I don’t call him day to day. Both of us have our own best friends, but we respect each other a lot, on-track and off.”


A Rivalry Fueled by Controversy

One of the season’s flashpoints occurred during the Brazilian GP, where Verstappen stormed from 17th to victory in treacherous wet conditions, while Norris slid from pole to sixth. Norris sparked a media firestorm when he attributed Verstappen’s triumph to “luck” rather than skill—a comment he later clarified was taken out of context.

Verstappen defended Norris, blaming the media for stoking controversy.

“Sometimes the media asks silly questions, or we give a bit of an answer under pressure. Fans blow it out of proportion—‘Oh, he’s not respectful,’ or things like that. But we respect each other a lot.”

The Red Bull champion downplayed the incident, emphasizing the mutual admiration between the two drivers.

“At the end of the day, I think we can always look each other in the eye and appreciate what we’re doing. He’s a great driver, and I’m sure his time will come.”


What Could Have Been

Had Norris joined Red Bull, Verstappen speculated the Constructors’ Championship battle might have turned in Red Bull’s favor. Instead, the decision to remain with McLaren has placed Norris in the driver’s seat of a team now poised for dominance.

For Verstappen, the hypothetical union remains a tantalizing what-if scenario, but his comments underline the respect and competitive spirit driving their burgeoning rivalry. As the 2024 season winds down, it’s clear that while Verstappen reigns supreme, Norris’ rise marks him as a future title contender—and possibly, a teammate Verstappen could have worked alongside in an alternate reality.

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