Norris counters Verstappen's 'anti-racing' criticism of 2026 F1 cars

Lando Norris has publicly disagreed with Max Verstappen's scathing assessment of Formula 1's 2026 cars, suggesting his rival is free to leave the sport if he is unhappy. While Verstappen labeled the new regulations 'anti-racing,' Norris described the driving experience as 'a lot of fun' and a fresh challenge for drivers and engineers.

Why it matters:

The public disagreement between two of the sport's top stars highlights a fundamental split in driver philosophy regarding F1's future direction. Verstappen's threat to potentially walk away over the regulations puts immense pressure on the FIA and FOM, as losing the reigning champion would be a significant blow. Norris's pragmatic acceptance, meanwhile, represents the view that adaptation is part of the sport's evolution.

The details:

• Verstappen's critique was severe, calling the 2026 cars 'anti-racing' and comparing the sensation to 'Formula E on steroids.' He also hinted his long-term future in F1 is not guaranteed if his enjoyment diminishes.
• Norris offered a direct counterpoint, stating, "If he wants to retire, he can retire." He emphasized that drivers are handsomely compensated and are not forced to participate.
• The McLaren driver acknowledged the new cars are slower and less refined than their predecessors but framed this as part of a new engineering puzzle. "It's a challenge, but it's a good, fun challenge for the engineers, for the drivers," he said.
• Norris pointed out that perspective is key: if the 2026 car was a driver's first experience of F1, they would likely call it "amazing." He expects performance to improve drastically by the end of the 2025 season and into 2026.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to how teams and drivers adapt. Norris believes the unique characteristics—less grip, more power, and a trickier handling balance—will force a different driving style. His comments suggest an acceptance that F1's technical landscape will constantly change, and the core challenge remains the same: extracting maximum performance from the package you're given. Whether Verstappen's criticisms influence future regulatory tweaks or if he softens his stance as development progresses will be a major storyline leading into the new era.