McLaren’s Lando Norris has hit back at Max Verstappen’s bold assertion that he would have dominated last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix by a much wider margin had he been driving a McLaren.
The championship leader has subsequently invited his arch-rival to test team papaya’s contender, warning him that he would be disappointed.
Verstappen delivered a barnstorming performance in Suzuka, snatching pole position from Norris by a whisker and fending off both McLaren drivers – Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri – to secure a resounding win at the wheel of Red Bull’s tricky RB21.
Norris’ Confident Retort
Speaking in Bahrain on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix, Norris brushed off Verstappen’s post-race comments with a smirk and a sharply worded invitation.
“I don’t mind, he can say what he wants,” Norris said. “I don’t care, honestly. Everyone can say what they want and believe what they want.
“I believe both Oscar and myself are good drivers. He is maybe better at some things, but he is not better in every area.
“I have a lot of respect for Max, but I also know some things are not true.”
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Then came the zinger that’s grabbing headlines.
“He can come and test our car any day that he wants and I’ll be excited to see the disappointment on his face after he gets out,” Norris declared, a grin breaking through.
The comment underscored his belief that the MCL39, while a front-runner in 2025, demands a finesse Verstappen might struggle to master.
Piastri’s Diplomatic Take
Piastri offered a more measured perspective on Verstappen’s Suzuka boast. Fresh off his own podium in Japan, the Aussie suggested that the Red Bull driver’s words were more playful than provocative.
“Yes, but I think if Max had qualified third and we were first and second, it probably would have looked quite different as well,” Piastri said. “So I think it was light-hearted.”
The McLaren driver’s comment nods to the context: Verstappen’s RB21 is a car with a notoriously narrow performance window, making his Suzuka triumph a testament to his skill.
For Piastri, Verstappen’s claim reflects the confidence of a driver who outperformed expectations rather than a serious slight against McLaren’s package.
Verstappen Stands Firm
Verstappen, however, isn’t backing down. Addressing the media in Bahrain, the reigning champion doubles down on his original statement, dismissing any notion that he was joking.
“I was not joking,” Verstappen says, his gaze steady. “You thought it was a joke? No, it’s not a joke. We know how hard and how narrow our window is with the car.
“Then you get that question, what would you do in another car? Well, I give you an honest answer. But I also said in that same interview that that is not going to happen anyway, so there is no need to speculate about it.”
The Dutchman’s conviction is clear: he sees McLaren’s MCL39, with its broader operating range, as a car where his aggressive style could shine even brighter.
Yet, he wisely acknowledged that such a test drive remains a hypothetical.
But what’s not up for debate is the intensity of the rivalry between the McLaren and Red Bull camps.
With Red Bull’s RB21 proving trickier to master than in previous seasons and McLaren’s MCL39 fast becoming a serious threat, the top tier of Formula 1 is closer than it’s been in years.
And while McLaren remains the benchmark, Verstappen and Red Bull are pushing ever closer – with a bit of banter along the way to spice things up.
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