Lando Norris: This is the first time I’ve been in a situation like this…

Lando Norris shared on the championship’s official website his views on the extent to which his relationship with Max Verstappen, which until recently was considered friendly, is affected by their rivalry on the circuits.

“I don’t know, it’s difficult for me to decide,” replied the McLaren driver. – We can say that you have an idea about this or that person, and about how to build relationships with people whose methods of fighting on the track are so different from yours.

What happens on the track is a completely different world compared to what we see in the paddock. This is the first time I’ve been in a situation like this, and only time will tell how it will develop. But today I still respect Max and I think he respects me. Maybe this is a question worth asking me again at the end of the year!”

Verstappen uses controversial fighting methods on track, for which he received two 10-second penalties during the Mexico City Grand Prix after incidents in which Norris was the second entrant. It is a tactic that the Dutch Red Bull Racing driver has not used since 2021, since his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton, which ended when Max won his first title.

“Of course it’s some kind of compliment,” Lando said. “But he does what he thinks will get him the best result, and that’s understandable.” He may not always act correctly, even though we always believe that we are doing the right thing and exactly what is best for us at that moment.

He’s doing what he has to do to stay ahead of me and win the championship because he’s under pressure. Red Bull Racing is working under pressure, because both our team and Ferrari were ahead of them in the Constructors’ Championship. They are trying their best, but so are we, and the more pressure we can put on them, the more mistakes they are likely to make.”