Lando Norris brutally challenges ‘bad guy’ Max Verstappen, despite the dismissive attitude of the disinterested F1 community. They don’t have to be enthusiastic about that, but it is something they should take into account.
In the hectic world of Formula 1, where every corner harbors potential drama, Lando Norris has taken up the gauntlet and thrown it straight in Max Verstappen’s face. The British McLaren driver, who currently has a firm grip on the championship lead, did not mince his words in a recent press conference. “Max is the villain of the track, but I’m not afraid to challenge him,” said Norris with a grin that seemed both defiant and confident. It was a moment that lit up the sport, but the F1 community – from fans to insiders – has responded with a lukewarm response. As if the internal battle at McLaren between Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri is enough. Still, whether they like it or not, this rivalry threatens to dominate the final races of the season.
Let’s rewind to the state of affairs on November 17, 2025. After a breathtaking victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo, Norris has increased his lead over Piastri to 24 points. The Australian, who took the lead earlier this year, stumbled over a penalty after a collision with Mercedes talent Kimi Antonelli and only finished fifth. Verstappen, the four-time world champion from Red Bull, impressively rose from an early puncture and a disastrous qualifying – he already flew out in Q1 – to a podium finish. But with 49 points behind Norris, his hunt for a fifth title appears to be a lost cause. “Forget it,” he muttered after the race, a rare moment of defeatism for the Dutchman known for his unbreakable fighting spirit.
Yet it is precisely that fighting spirit that Norris is now challenging. In the aftermath of São Paulo, during an informal chat with journalists in the paddock, Norris delved deeper into the rivalry that has been simmering for years. “Max is the bad guy, the guy who always drives on the edge and often gets away with it. Look at last year: Abu Dhabi, that controversial ending. I’m not like him, but I’m not going to avoid him. I challenge him, brutally and directly. Let him come to Las Vegas.” It was a comment reminiscent of the epic duels between Senna and Prost, or Schumacher and Häkkinen. Norris, with his seven wins this season – equal to Piastri – is positioning himself as the underdog who has emerged as a serious threat. His dominance in Mexico and Brazil, where he won both the sprint and the main race, shows that McLaren finally has the reliable car it deserves.
The F1 community, however, shrugs. Social media is abuzz with posts about the McLaren internal war: should the team prioritize Norris over Piastri, or the other way around? Fans are fiercely debating team orders, with hashtags like #TeamNorris and #PiastriForPresident flooding the timelines. Verstappen, the man who once ruled the sport with an iron fist, is now seen as an afterthought. “Max is out,” a prominent F1 podcaster tweets. “The title battle is a McLaren family drama.” Even Red Bull team boss Christian Horner admitted in an interview with Sky Sports that the focus is on 2026, with new regulations on the horizon. Upgrades for the RB21 are minimal, and Verstappen himself sounds uninterested: “I drive for fun, not for a lost cause.”
But Norris doesn’t think about accepting that nonchalance. He knows better. Verstappen has already taken three victories this season after the summer break, including impressive poles in Italy and Azerbaijan. In Singapore he finished narrowly behind Norris, and in Austin he showed that Red Bull can still bite. “They call him the bad guy because he’s smart, he’s merciless,” Norris continued. “I respect that, but I’m ready for it. The community may be disinterested – they don’t have to get excited about a Verstappen comeback – but they have to take it seriously. With three races to go, and a sprint in Qatar, nothing has been decided.” Indeed, the permutations are murky for the Dutchman: he needs to win in Las Vegas, Qatar (both sprint and race) and Abu Dhabi, while Norris and Piastri make mistakes. An unlikely scenario, but in F1 nothing is impossible.
What makes this challenge so brutal? Norris, the 25-year-old Brit who was once the ‘nice guy’, has developed into a driver with spirit. His victory in Brazil was a masterclass: from pole position he led from start to finish, managing tires and strategy with the precision of a surgeon. Meanwhile, Verstappen fought his way to the front, dueling with Antonelli in a climax that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. “That was purely F1,” said Norris afterwards. “Max always pushes, but I push back.” It recalls their clash in Austria earlier this year, where Norris was awarded a penalty but learned lessons. Now, with McLaren’s MCL40 as the fastest weapon, he feels untouchable.
The community’s negative attitude is understandable. The 2025 season was a rollercoaster: McLaren dominated after a slow start, while Red Bull struggled with aerodynamics. Piastri’s emergence as a title contender stole the show, with his victory in Monaco as the highlight. Verstappen, who lost points in the first half due to reliability problems, seems a shadow of his 2024 self. Yet Sky Sports analyst Anthony Davidson warns: “Don’t forget Max. He is a real challenger. Norris should not underestimate him.” Davidson points to the circuits to come: Las Vegas with its straights, ideal for Red Bull’s top speed; Qatar’s sprint, where Verstappen excels in short bursts; and Abu Dhabi, where he stole the title in 2021.
For Norris, this is more than a race; it’s a statement. “The F1 world doesn’t have to rejoice at the idea of a Norris-Verstappen duel,” he said, laughing. “But they have to take it into account. I challenge him because I know he will bite. And if he does, this season will be legendary.” With 390 points in hand, and only 83 left to distribute, the title seems within reach. But in the spirit of the sport, the tension lingers. Will Verstappen, the ‘bad guy’, rise from the ashes? Or will Norris make history as the new hero? The paddock holds its breath, even as the community pretends not to care. Because deep down they know: this is what Formula 1 lives for.
