SAKHIR, Bahrain — Max Verstappen and Lando Norris humorously played down any notions of a personal rivalry between them in Formula 1, even jokingly suggesting they had been involved in a bar fight. The light-hearted comments came during a press conference on the second day of preseason testing.
Last season, Norris emerged as Verstappen’s primary contender as the Dutch driver clinched his fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship. Their fierce on-track confrontations raised discussions about whether the current F1 regulations adequately prevent aggressive and risky driving.
“It’s a terrible relationship. We don’t get on anymore. It’s taken its toll,” Verstappen quipped, while Norris laughed beside him. Norris added to the banter by saying, “We had a fight the other day in a local pub.” Verstappen continued, “We had to get escorted (out). I always say, ‘You should have seen the other guy,’ but actually he still looks good.”
Reflecting on his rivalry with Verstappen, Norris expressed that he learned valuable lessons from their contests last season. He suggested a more assertive approach in future races against the champion. “I know there are going to be tough battles, and I’m sure some of them are not always going to end the way I want or hopefully Max wants, but we’re racing drivers. We get along,” said Norris.
Norris acknowledged that interpretations of racing incidents vary, but emphasized mutual respect between the duo and a shared anticipation for future racing challenges. His impressive performance in the latter half of 2024 positions Norris as a strong contender to dethrone Verstappen this season. Illustrating his potential, Norris clocked the fastest time on the first day of preseason testing in Bahrain.
