Lando Norris has spoken warmly of Max Verstappen following a thrilling end to the 2025 F1 championship between the pair of them and Oscar Piastri.
From Australia until Las Vegas, it looked like the title battle was between the Brit and Australian in their McLarens. However, a double DSQ in the final US race of the year allowed the Dutchman back in. Another terrible mistake on strategy in Qatar was another gift.
Ultimately, however, Lando Norris held on by 2 points to beat Max Verstappen to the F1 title after Abu Dhabi. It is his first one, of course.
Lando Norris on not giving up after the F1 Dutch GP and his admiration for Max Verstappen’s astonishing comeback
Following unreliability at Zandvoort with seven laps to go for car #4, he dropped to 34 points adrift of Oscar Piastri in the title race. Verstappen was a further 70 back and looking out of it.
The British driver was superb from there. He beat Oscar Piastri in the next six Grands Prix. It would have been seven without the Las Vegas DSQ. A 34-point deficit turned into a 24-point cushion after São Paulo.
From 104 points behind, Max Verstappen almost pulled off the greatest comeback in F1 history. He outscored the new World Champion by 68 points across the last nine rounds. Against Piastri, it was a barely believable 115 points. 6 wins and 10 podiums across the final 10 Grands Prix was a stunning achievement.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 about his title victory, Lando Norris brought up the brilliance of four-time World Champion Max Verstappen unprompted.
“No, I would never have thought of that that quickly [resigned to P2 in the championship post-Zandvoort].
“I certainly wasn’t so hopeful that there was still a chance, but I think if this year has proved anything, it’s not from my side, but seeing Max come from 100 points back to where he did at the end, that’s the incredible thing.
“He doesn’t need any more respect than what he’s got, and any more credit than what he’s got, because he’s a multiple World Champion. He’s got as much as I think you can get.
“I probably got even more respect and credit for what he’s achieved this year, coming back from that deficit that he had.”
Lando Norris on his respect for fellow F1 World Champion Max Verstappen
During title fights, drivers can use the media to spin narratives about others and throw various verbal shots at each other.
While Norris and Verstappen have got on well and continue to do so, they’ve never been afraid to use the F1 media to get points across. It happened following contentious moments in 2024 and this year.
This is something the 2025 F1 World Champion admitted when talking about the respect they have for each other.
“Yeah, I think so. Everyone knows I’ve got on very well with Max.
“We’ve had our battles, our little arguments. But I think deep down and I think for each other, which is the most important, no matter how everyone sees it on the outside, we have a lot of respect for one another.
“We’re always going to say things to attack and jab at one another, to annoy them, to frustrate them, to antagonise. That’s part of the game.
“Deep down, as people, we’re guys who get along, who have the same desires, same destiny in a way. We have a lot of respect for one another. No matter what anyone else says, that’s something we have for one another.
“That counts for a lot. That’s all we want in a way. That kind of level of respect.”
Lando Norris expecting plenty of future F1 battles with Max Verstappen
Happy to take the crown from Verstappen after four straight titles for the Red Bull driver, Norris hopes for a lot more fights in the coming years.
“It was a pleasure to take the reigns from him. He had a few too many in a row [laughs].
“It was very cool that I had that kind of sniff at it last year. We managed to get the better of him this year.
“There’s going to be plenty more battles in the future. I’m looking forward to it all.”
Lando Norris will use the number 1 in 2026. It remains to be seen what Max Verstappen picks.
