The Miami Grand Prix on May 4, 2025, will be remembered not only for McLaren’s dominant performance, but also for Lando Norris’s harsh words to Max Verstappen. After an intense first lap in which Norris lost four places due to Verstappen’s aggressive defense, the Briton was highly critical in the press conference: “Max isn’t racing intelligently. He’s ruining his own race.” The comment, as reported by GPFans, caused a stir, especially since Norris, despite his talent, has yet to win a world title, while Verstappen is a four-time champion. This statement sparked a heated debate on X, with fans praising Norris’s courage but others advising him to show some respect.

The rivalry between Norris and Verstappen erupted when the Dutchman slammed the door on Norris early in the race, who was attempting to take the lead. Verstappen locked his front tire in the first corner, forcing Norris to retire and causing him to lose positions. Although the FIA ​​did not impose a penalty, Norris was visibly frustrated. In onboard footage, later shared on X, he even gave Verstappen the finger, a gesture that underlined his emotions. “It’s always like this with Max,” Norris said after the race, as quoted by F1Maximaal, suggesting that Verstappen’s driving style often goes beyond the limit. However, Norris managed to come back to second place, behind his teammate Oscar Piastri, who went on to win the race.

Verstappen’s race was less successful. A pit stop error and balance issues with the RB21 resulted in a fourth-place finish, 34 seconds behind Piastri. His frustration was audible over the onboard radio, where he described the car as “disconnected.” Red Bull’s struggles this season, with McLaren leading the constructors’ championship, appear to be testing Verstappen’s patience. He remains third in the drivers’ standings, however, behind Piastri and Norris, first and second respectively. The dynamic between the two drivers, who are friends off the track, is becoming increasingly tense. Norris’ comments in Miami suggest he views Verstappen’s dominant driving style as a weakness, while Verstappen said in Japan earlier this year that he would “overtake anyone for three laps” in McLaren’s superior car.

Norris’s criticism is nothing new. As early as 2024, he had expressed concerns about Verstappen’s aggressive approach, such as after their collision in Austria, where both suffered a puncture. Norris then demanded an apology, which never came, although they later discussed the incident. This season, with McLaren’s faster car, Norris seems more confident. His comment that Verstappen “doesn’t race intelligently” reflects his frustration with the latter’s uncompromising style, but also raises questions about Norris’s own position. As one X user wrote: “Norris has the right to criticize, but to ridicule a four-time champion without a title himself? That’s bold.” Others, such as Sky Sports analyst Ralf Schumacher, have noted that Norris’s recent mistakes, such as his qualifying crash in Saudi Arabia, show his weakness under pressure.

McLaren’s dominance in Miami, with Piastri winning and Norris finishing on the podium, underscored their technical advantage. McLaren CEO Zak Brown praised his drivers but denied Red Bull’s accusations of illegal tire cooling. Verstappen, supported by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, remains focused on improvements, but the gap to McLaren is widening. Norris’s self-criticism, such as his post-Bahrain comment that “something is wrong between me and the car,” contrasts with his attack on Verstappen, which has earned him both praise and criticism. Peter Windsor advised Norris to talk less and race more, citing Verstappen’s quiet approach.

As Formula 1 prepares for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the tension between Norris and Verstappen remains palpable. Their friendship, strengthened by shared Belgian roots and a life in Monaco, is being tested by their on-track battles. Norris’s words in Miami were a warning that he no longer wanted to be in Verstappen’s shadow, but the four-time champion will not be provoked. The question is whether Norris can answer his critics with a title, or whether Verstappen, as one fan wrote on X, “will respond with action.” The battle is far from over.