Lando Norris warns Max Verstappen 'we're not best friends' as he talks up title hopes
Lando Norris has become Great Britain’s 21st different race winner (Photo: Getty)
Lando Norris is confident he can challenge for the Formula 1 title next season following his maiden win at the Miami Grand Prix.
But the British star warned reigning champion Max Verstappen that their close friendship may be affected if the duo go head-to-head for the championship.
Five years after bursting onto the scene, Norris finally tasted victory as an F1 driver with an impressive win at the Miami International Autodrome last Sunday.
Many have long-tipped the 24-year-old for glory and to follow in the footsteps of Sir Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button and win the world championship in the future.
And with McLaren now closer to the front of the grid than they have been for over a decade, the stars are aligning nicely.
‘100 per cent,’ Norris told Sky Sports on Thursday when asked if he could win the title in 2025.
‘I am saying that still with my feet on the ground. I want to believe that we have two great drivers. We have an amazing team behind us and we are closer than ever.
Norris beat Max Verstappen to victory in Miami (Photo: Getty)
‘As much as I said at the beginning of this year we can win races, I should have the confidence to say next year we can go for the next step.’
‘Absolutely, we can win more races this year. I think we can compete against Red Bull. I think we’re looking at an exciting season between us, Red Bull and Ferrari.’
It is expected that the gap in performance to Red Bull will be significantly closer in 2025, especially with design genius Adrian Newey leaving the team, which could see Norris go toe-t- toe with Verstappen for the first time.
Verstappen was quick to congratulate Norris on his first F1 win (Photo: Getty)
The Brit has long been good friends with the three-time champion, but Norris fears a title battle could harm their relationship, perhaps in the same way Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s did during their years together at Mercedes.
‘I’m sure it will [change]. Like, I don’t want to say it in a bad way,’ he added.
‘We have respect for one another, we get along. We’re not best friends. We don’t text each other every day, that kind of thing.
‘But we just have a lot of respect from him to me and me back to him. So I look forward to it. I want to challenge him, I want to race against him.
‘I want to battle because I think he’s one of the best drivers ever in Formula One, so if I can prove myself against him, I’m proving myself against one of the best, and that’s exactly what I want to do.’
Verstappen was full of congratulations for Norris in Miami, having consistently spoken highly of his fellow racer for many years, and he would no doubt relish the opportunity to directly race the McLaren star.
After six grand prix, Norris is fourth in the standings, 53 points off leader Verstappen, while McLaren are third in the constructors’ table, 115 points adrift of Red Bull, with the season set to continue on 19 May at Imola.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.