SILVERSTONE, England (AP) 鈥� Lando Norris says reports that Max Verstappen has considered a move to McLaren are 鈥渁 cool thing鈥� to hear but 鈥渘ot a serious thing鈥� as speculation swirls in about a switch which could create a lineup of .
Reports from media including Sky Sports indicated last week that Verstappen’s management had requested, and held, a meeting with McLaren ahead of the . The content of any discussions wasn’t reported and the Dutch driver has yet to comment.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a cool thing, it鈥檚 a good thing that a four-time world champion wants to come on board and wants to potentially join the team,” Norris said Thursday as he prepares for his home British Grand Prix.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how much of it鈥檚 true, but it鈥檚 a cool thing and if there鈥檚 an opportunity for me to drive with other people, it鈥檚 something I鈥檝e always looked forward to. But it鈥檚 not a thing for now. It鈥檚 not a serious thing.鈥�
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown said on the Up To Speed podcast released Wednesday that Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri are 鈥渘ot going anywhere鈥� and he’d only consider Verstappen if McLaren had an opening.
Besides Verstappen, 鈥渜uite a few others鈥� in F1 are interested in a potential McLaren drive too, Norris said.
鈥淚鈥檓 also just excited for my future with McLaren. I鈥檓 still going to be here for many, many more years, so I鈥檓 excited for whoever I get partnered with,鈥� he added. “But for the time being, me and Oscar are still working very well together. We鈥檙e excited to work together for more years too, so that鈥檚 our focus for now.鈥�
Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028 but there have been signs the deal includes options to exit earlier under certain conditions. A planned for his long-time race engineer GianPiero Lambiase increased the speculation of a potential move to McLaren for the Dutchman.
Mercedes has been interested in Verstappen in the past but team principal Toto Wolff has said he wants to keep title rivals George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Verstappen’s also previously suggested he’d F1.
Norris said he believed he could hold his own if Verstappen, a friend and on-track rival for the title last year, is ever his teammate.
鈥淚 do believe I can beat any driver. I think what makes Max so incredible is how he is over the course of a season, every single weekend, performing to the level that he does is what鈥檚 impressive,鈥� Norris said.
鈥淚 believe whether it鈥檚 him or having a chance to go against Lewis (Hamilton) or Fernando (Alonso), any of the drivers that people know are some of the best, I think it鈥檚 a cool opportunity for me at the same time. So, excited for whatever may come my way in the future.鈥�
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