Verstappen urges Norris to keep faith in McLaren amid past Red Bull doubts

Verstappen Encourages Norris to Remain Committed to McLaren despite Past Doubts about Red Bull

Max Verstappen, a two-time world champion who is poised to secure his third title this season, is currently in the best form of his career, leaving his competitors perplexed about how to surpass him.

Red Bull’s dominance has made it difficult for others to secure victories, leaving promising talents like Lando Norris to bide their time until they have access to more competitive machinery.

Although Norris is currently under contract with McLaren until 2026, McLaren’s lackluster start to the season has led to speculation that the British driver might consider exploring other options if the situation doesn’t improve.

However, Verstappen, who is friends with Norris, believes that the young Briton should resist the temptation to believe that other teams would offer better opportunities.

Instead, Verstappen draws from his own experience at Red Bull, where he persevered even during times when he contemplated leaving, and now that commitment is paying off.

“If Lando had a car capable of winning races, he would indeed win races. It’s that simple,” explained Verstappen at the British Grand Prix.

“Sometimes, you have to trust the process and genuinely believe in it. People can say they believe, but you have to truly believe in it.

“You need to see that you are attracting the right individuals to build a winning team. You need to ensure that everything falls into place. I trusted our process, and it has paid off.”

However, Verstappen admits that during Red Bull’s struggle to find the perfect engine partner, there were moments when even he wondered if another team might be a better fit.

“Of course, I had doubts at times with a new engine partner. Will this partnership work out? But then, I witnessed their determination to make it work.

“Sometimes I had doubts and thought, will it really work? I didn’t know. Yes, there were times when I considered leaving. But during those years, I was also growing and developing as a driver.

“And you never forget the team that gave you the opportunity in Formula 1 in the first place. Loyalty is important, in my opinion.”

Verstappen emphasizes that people often think the grass is greener on the other side, but in most cases, it isn’t. He believes it’s crucial to remember this in such situations.

Earlier this year, Norris expressed that while it wasn’t ideal to wait so long for his first win, he wasn’t desperate to move on.

“At times, it’s tough because I’m a competitive guy and I want to win,” he said. “Of course, there are moments when I think about what I could do to get into a winning position earlier.

“But at the same time, I’m content with where I am right now. I have confidence in the team… and that’s what matters most to me, to have that confidence in myself and for the team to have it as well.”

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• Verstappen urges Norris to keep faith in McLaren
• Red Bull Racing
• McLaren Formula 1 Team
• Max Verstappen – Official Website