Lando Norris holds no grudge against Max Verstappen despite his life becoming "very, very tough at times"

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen were involved in a heated on-track battle for the drivers' championship in 2024. In line with this and the ongoing 2025 F1 season, the former has taken the time to talk about his tussles with Verstappen.

The 2025 season has so far seen the domination of the McLaren drivers because of a superior car. This has allowed Lando Norris (who is currently in P2 with 176 points) to have a huge edge over the reigning champion, Max Verstappen (P3 with 137 points).

Amid their on-track battles that take place every now and then, Norris has admitted that Verstappen has, in the past, made his life 'very, very tough at times.'

"I don't think he's done anything untoward towards me. He's raced against me very, very toughly, as he has the right to do. He's made my life very, very tough at times. And he has the right to do that. I've said it many times, I have a lot of respect for Max. The driver he is, the person he is, what he stands for all of the time." Norris said via BBC.

The 2025 Formula 1 season is nine rounds down, and both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen have so far amassed two victories each. The former's McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, is leading the standings with 186 points, including five triumphs.

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Lando Norris 'admires' Max Verstappen's F1 stats

F1 Grand Prix of United States - Source: Getty

While Lando Norris has admitted that Max Verstappen is a huge threat on the racetrack, via the same interview with the BBC, he has also acknowledged the latter's impressive statistics in Formula 1.

Verstappen has so far competed in over 200 Grand Prix and has amassed 65 victories, 116 podiums, and 43 pole positions alongside his four drivers' championships (2021 - 2024).

In line with this, Norris added:

"And what he's achieved, his four world championships. That's four more than me, and he's had a lot more race wins than me. I admire those stats, those performances. But at the same time, everyone does what they believe is best. Everyone does what they believe is right. And they race for themselves."

As indicated above, the Red Bull star driver has won four consecutive titles since 2021. The ongoing ground-effect era has belonged to him, but with 2025 being the last year of the current regulations, it is Norris's chance to finally secure his maiden world title.

Red Bull is trying its best to solidify Verstappen's 2025 title chances by improving the RB21, but other than him, Norris' main threat for the title is from his own teammate, Oscar Piastri, who is leading the standings.

Next up on the race calendar is the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix.