McLaren’s Lando Norris chooses between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, offering a surprising take

Lando Norris didn’t forget the thrill of competing in the first race of the season after his victory in Australia. With an impressive performance over the weekend, Norris proved that McLaren will be a major contender in the Constructors’ Championship this season. Despite his success, Norris also took time to weigh in on the ongoing rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

While the Australian Grand Prix wasn’t the ideal start to his tenure with Ferrari, Hamilton showed he’s ready for the challenges this season will present. Meanwhile, Verstappen made it clear that he’s not backing down from his quest for a third consecutive title in 2025, remaining fully committed to defending his crown.

Looking ahead, Norris is eager to carry his momentum into the upcoming Grand Prix. But before the season kicked off, he shared his thoughts on his favorite F1 drivers in an interview with Mail Sports.

When asked about some of the greatest drivers in F1 history, Norris named notable figures like Sebastian Vettel, Nigel Mansell, and Fernando Alonso, leaving out legends such as Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna. But when it came time to pick between Verstappen and Hamilton, Norris made his choice.

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris (Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

“See you later (laughs). I know Max better than some of the other drivers. In terms of people I get along with, I’d choose Max over Hamilton,” Norris said. Given Verstappen’s ongoing career, his answer was surprising considering Hamilton’s remarkable seven world titles.

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Norris reflects on Australian Grand Prix victory

With a new trophy added to his collection, Lando Norris heads into the next race atop the Formula 1 driver’s standings. Following his impressive weekend at the Australian Grand Prix, the British driver shared his thoughts on both his performance and the efforts of his McLaren team.

“It was a perfect weekend from start to finish. Massive thanks to everyone at McLaren, everyone back home, and at MTC—everyone here,” Norris said. “This is a beautiful way to start the year. A big thanks to the team, because the car has been amazing. This isn’t just down to my drive today; it takes a lot of team effort.“

Verstappen reflects after finishing in second place

Max Verstappen may have seen his record streak of 1,100 consecutive days at the top of the F1 standings come to an end, but the reigning world champion still expressed satisfaction with his performance in the opening race of the season. “Tricky conditions, but good fun! Solid start. Let’s keep pushing,” Verstappen posted on his X account.

With the next race in China this weekend, Verstappen will look to remind everyone why he’s the reigning champion, having delivered a remarkable drive under challenging conditions last season.