Norris shrugs off Verstappen F1 fury: ‘He can retire if he wants'

Reigning world champion Lando Norris has fired back at Max Verstappen following the Dutchman’s scathing criticism of Formula 1’s new-era cars

In a press conference held on Thursday in Bahrain, Verstappen unleashed a verbal barrage at the 2026 machines, branding them “FE on steroids” and “not a lot of fun to drive”.

While the Red Bull charger lamented the loss of "pure driving" and the shift toward heavy energy management, Norris embraced the complexity of the new hybrid era with a shrug and a smile. For the man currently carrying the Number 1 plate on his McLaren, the evolution of the sport is simply part of the job description.

‘Nothing to Complain About’

The paddock barely had time to digest Verstappen’s fiery verdict before Norris coolly poured water on the flames. The Britonr didn’t just disagree – he practically shrugged at the controversy.

"A lot of fun. I really enjoyed it," Norris said. "So, yeah, if he wants to retire, he can retire. Formula 1 changes all the time. Sometimes it's a bit better to drive, sometimes it's not as good to drive.

"We get paid a stupid amount of money to drive, so you can't really complain at the end of the day. Any driver can go and find something else to do. It's not like he has to be here, or any driver has to be here.

"It's a challenge, but it's a good, fun challenge for the engineers, for the drivers. You have to drive it in a different way, understand and manage things differently, but I still get to drive cars and travel the world and have a lot of fun. So, nothing to complain about."

In a sport where driver grumbles are as common as tyre changes, Norris’ response cut sharply against the grain. The 26-year-old framed the new energy-heavy regulations not as a burden, but as an evolution – another chapter in Formula 1’s perpetual reinvention rather than a crisis of identity.

Perspective Over Panic

Norris didn’t deny that the cars feel different – slower, less graceful, more technical – but he challenged the idea that early discomfort equals long-term doom. In his view, what drivers are feeling now is merely the growing pain of a fresh rulebook still finding its rhythm.

"It certainly doesn't feel as quick as the past few years, and it certainly doesn't handle as perfectly and those things," Norris added.

"I'm sure if [Max] came in and this was the F1 car he started driving, then he probably would say it's amazing. Comparing to the older cars, it doesn't feel as pretty and beautiful to drive, but it's still pretty good.

"It's still early days of a regulation that's meant to be a good amount slower, but if we fast forward to the end of this year and ahead to next year, we're going to be going a lot quicker by then.

"Everyone can have their own opinions, and say and decide what they want to do. No one should complain about that or be upset about it. Every driver has their own opinions. He didn't like it, and I like it."

• Read also: Verstappen savages new-generation F1 cars as ‘FE on steroids’

The contrast with Max Verstappen could hardly be sharper. Where the Red Bull Racing star lamented lost thrills and energy-management overload, Norris painted a picture of adaptation, experimentation and, above all, perspective.

In the end, the debate isn’t just about batteries or lap times – it’s about philosophy. One champion sees a sport drifting from its soul; the other sees a sport simply changing gears.

And as Formula 1 hurtles toward its electric-leaning future, the biggest battle might not be on track, but in how its stars choose to embrace – or resist – the road ahead.

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