Lando Norris teases Max Verstappen over F1 2026 complaints: "He can retire if he desires"

Reigning world champion Lando Norris feels Method 1 drivers have little to complain about following Max Verstappen’s explosive criticism on the brand new technology of vehicles.

Talking his thoughts on the brand new rules, which characteristic a a lot larger reliance on electrical power that forces drivers and groups to focus closely on power administration, Verstappen mentioned the brand new vehicles are “not quite a lot of enjoyable” and really feel “a bit extra like Method E on steroids”.

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“The foundations are the identical for everybody, so it’s important to take care of that [but] as a pure driver, I get pleasure from driving flat out and, in the meanwhile, you can’t drive like that,” the four-time world champion mentioned, suggesting the brand new guidelines aren’t precisely serving to him commit his long-term future to F1.

When Verstappen’s feedback have been put to him, Norris mentioned he truly enjoys the brand new challenges the 2026 F1 vehicles have thrown up, and feels that handsomely remunerated F1 drivers have “nothing to complain” about.

“A whole lot of enjoyable. I actually loved it,” Norris mentioned. “So, yeah, if he desires to retire, he can retire. Method 1 modifications on a regular basis. Typically it is a bit higher to drive, typically it isn’t pretty much as good to drive.

“We receives a commission a silly sum of money to drive, so you possibly can’t actually complain on the finish of the day. Any driver can go and discover one thing else to do. It is not like he needs to be right here, or any driver needs to be right here.

“It is a problem, however it’s a superb, enjoyable problem for the engineers, for the drivers. You must drive it differently, perceive and handle issues in another way, however I nonetheless get to drive vehicles and journey the world and have quite a lot of enjoyable. So, nothing to complain about.”

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photograph by: Mario Renzi – Method 1 – Getty Photos

Norris identified groups will enhance their new equipment in leaps and bounds over the approaching months, so he does not suppose day two of the official pre-season take a look at in Bahrain is an ideal indication of how this technology of vehicles will pan out on the long run.

“It actually does not really feel as fast because the previous few years, and it actually does not deal with as completely and people issues,” Norris added. “I am certain if [Max] got here in and this was the F1 automotive he began driving, then he most likely would say it is superb. Evaluating to the older vehicles, it does not really feel as fairly and delightful to drive, however it’s nonetheless fairly good.

“It is nonetheless early days of a regulation that is meant to be a superb quantity slower, but when we quick ahead to the tip of this yr and forward to subsequent yr, we will be going loads faster by then.

“Everybody can have their very own opinions, and say and resolve what they wish to do. Nobody ought to complain about that or be upset about it. Each driver has their very own opinions. He did not prefer it, and I prefer it.”

Pictures from Bahrain Pre-Season Testing – Day 2

Alexander Albon, Williams