Lando Norris isn’t pulling any punches about his growing rivalry with Max Verstappen on the F1 track this season – even though they’re actually good friends off it.
The two drivers have been battling it out more than ever in 2024, and it’s getting pretty intense.
"It’s weird how someone can be totally different on track compared to how you get along with them personally," Norris told F1TV, addressing the elephant in the room about his friendship with Verstappen.
This is new territory for the McLaren driver. He’s never been in a proper championship fight with his Dutch friend before.
"It’s my first time being in this situation," he admitted. "Time will tell how that changes. For now, I still respect Max, and I think he respects me – but maybe ask me again at the end of the year."
They’ve had some pretty dramatic moments already this season. There was that contact in Austria while fighting for the lead, and things got heated during two controversial battles at COTA and Mexico City.
Norris is trying to keep it all in perspective though.
"He’s doing what he believes is best, which is fair enough," he said about their on-track encounters. "It might not always be the right thing, but we always do what we believe is right at that time."
The real test of their friendship might still be coming as the championship battle intensifies. Will they still be grabbing dinner together after tough racing weekends? That’s something both drivers – and fans – are probably wondering about.
