Lando Norris fires warning at Max Verstappen: ‘We’re not best friends’

Lando Norris feels ready to compete for the Formula 1 championship next year after securing his first victory at the Miami Grand Prix.

However, the British driver cautioned current champion Max Verstappen that their tight-knit relationship could suffer if they find themselves vying directly for the title.

Five years since his debut, Norris achieved his inaugural F1 win with a commanding performance at the Miami International Autodrome last Sunday.

Long considered a contender for future glory, the 24-year-old is often mentioned alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button as a potential future world champion.

With McLaren in a stronger position near the front of the grid than they've been in more than ten years, things are looking favorable.

"100 per cent," Norris stated to Sky Sports on Thursday, confirming his belief that he could clinch the title in 2025.

"I am saying that still with my feet on the ground. I want to believe that we have two great drivers. We have an amazing team behind us and we are closer than ever," he added.

"As much as I said at the beginning of this year we can win races, I should have the confidence to say next year we can go for the next step," he expressed.

"Absolutely, we can win more races this year. I think we can compete against Red Bull. I think we’re looking at an exciting season between us, Red Bull and Ferrari," Norris added optimistically.

With Adrian Newey's departure from Red Bull anticipated to close the performance gap by 2025, Norris could find himself competing directly with Verstappen for the first time.

The British driver has maintained a strong friendship with the three-time champion, yet Norris is concerned that competing for the title might strain their relationship, possibly mirroring the tension experienced by Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes.

"I’m sure it will [change]. Like, I don’t want to say it in a bad way," he noted.

"We have respect for one another, we get along. We’re not best friends. We don’t text each other every day, that kind of thing," Norris explained.

"But we just have a lot of respect from him to me and me back to him. So I look forward to it. I want to challenge him, I want to race against him."

"I want to battle because I think he’s one of the best drivers ever in Formula One, so if I can prove myself against him, I’m proving myself against one of the best, and that’s exactly what I want to do."

Verstappen warmly congratulated Norris in Miami, having praised his racing skills for several years, and would certainly enjoy the chance to compete directly against the McLaren driver.

Following six Grand Prix events, Norris holds fourth place in the standings, trailing leader Verstappen by 53 points. Meanwhile, McLaren is in third place in the constructors’ standings, 115 points behind Red Bull. The season is scheduled to resume on May 19 at Imola.