Max Verstappen has put to rest speculation about a rift with Lando Norris, insisting their friendship remains intact despite back-to-back championship battles.
Speaking to Bloomberg at Red Bull's 2026 Formula 1 season launch in Detroit, Michigan, the four-time world champion was directly questioned about whether he maintains a friendship with the reigning title holder.
Verstappen offered a straightforward response, dismissing suggestions that their relationship had suffered any damage from their on-track rivalry.
The Dutchman's comments come after some in the media suggested the pair's bond had been strained by their consecutive seasons competing for the drivers' championship.
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Formula 1 has witnessed numerous friendships deteriorate when world championship glory is at stake.
The breakdown between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg serves as perhaps the most notable example of how title ambitions can destroy close bonds between drivers.
Against this backdrop, one journalist has claimed that the relationship between Norris and Verstappen has taken a "battering" following their recent clashes in the standings.
Max Verstappen has put to rest speculation about a rift with Lando Norris, insisting their friendship remains intact despite back-to-back championship battles
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Such assessments reflect a common assumption that competing for motorsport's ultimate prize inevitably drives a wedge between friends, particularly when one stands directly in the other's path to glory.
Verstappen was unequivocal when addressing the matter directly, stating: "Yeah, I mean, that has never changed. It's always been the same."
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F1 facts fans might not know | GETTY/GBNEWSThe Red Bull driver acknowledged the intensity of their rivalry while rejecting the notion it had caused lasting damage.
"It got spicy, but there's also a bit of fun in it, just being like that," he explained.
Verstappen also pointed the finger at press coverage for inflating tensions beyond reality.
"Honestly, the media always makes it probably a bit more spicy than it actually is," he added, suggesting external narratives had painted a more dramatic picture than the actual situation warranted.
Lando Norris won the first F1 title of his career last month
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The 2025 campaign presented a more formidable challenge than Norris's previous title bid, though their wheel-to-wheel encounters proved somewhat less dramatic.
McLaren's MCL39 proved devastatingly quick at certain venues, with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri often disappearing into the distance once races began.
Norris secured the championship with a third-place result at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Verstappen among the first to offer his congratulations despite heated exchanges in press conferences beforehand.
Their mutual respect remains evident, particularly recalling how Verstappen told Norris following his own fourth title triumph in 2024 that the Briton's "time will come" to claim the crown.