Max Verstappen ‘Invited’ Lando Norris to Take Sergio Perez’s Seat at Red Bull

Winning his fourth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship, Max Verstappen revealed he once invited Lando Norris to join Red Bull, jokingly suggesting, “If you want to win, you come here.”

Verstappen Clinches Fourth Title Amidst Red Bull Challenges

Max Verstappen secured his fourth straight title during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, amassing an insurmountable 63-point lead over Lando Norris. Despite dominant performances, Verstappen acknowledged the season was “challenging,” citing Red Bull’s struggles and McLaren’s surge as serious competitors.

Explosive Rivalry Between Verstappen and Norris

Their rivalry reached a boiling point at the Austrian Grand Prix, where the duo went wheel-to-wheel for the victory. A dramatic collision ended Norris’ race prematurely, while Verstappen settled for P5.

At Silverstone, Verstappen extended his lead to 84 points. However, back-to-back victories for Norris in the Netherlands and Singapore slashed that advantage to 44 points heading into the Brazilian Sprint race.

The title battle concluded at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Verstappen claimed a wet-weather victory, while mistakes relegated Norris to P6. The final blow came in Las Vegas, where Verstappen finished P5 and sealed the championship as Norris placed sixth.

Verstappen’s Gesture of Friendship

Post-race camaraderie between the two drivers saw Norris congratulate Verstappen with a thumbs-up on track, followed by mutual words of respect.

“Racing a friend for the title is always a little bit different,” Verstappen told the media, adding, “We have a lot of respect for each other, and I’m sure we’ll have many more battles to come.”

An Offer to Race Together

In a surprising revelation, Verstappen shared that he had previously offered Norris Sergio Perez’s seat at Red Bull. Speaking on F1’s official YouTube channel, he said:

“I’ve known Lando for a long time. When I was already winning and he wasn’t, I told him, ‘Your time will come. Stick to the process.’ I even invited him to be my teammate: ‘If you want to win, you can come here as well.’”

However, Norris chose to remain loyal to McLaren, signing a contract extension earlier this year.

Respect Amidst Rivalry

While Norris opted to stay with McLaren, Verstappen expressed admiration for his rival:

“I’m happy for him. He had a great season, even if things didn’t always go his way. That’s just part of the journey—you make mistakes, learn, and bounce back.”

The Dutchman added that their friendship, while not deeply personal, remains strong despite media pressure:

“We’re friends, not best friends, but we respect each other. Sometimes the media asks silly questions during a championship fight, which isn’t fair.”

More Battles to Come

As the F1 grid evolves, Verstappen and Norris are poised for more thrilling battles. With McLaren rising and Verstappen’s dominance unshaken, fans can expect this rivalry to define the future of Formula 1.