Lando Norris bats off ‘friendship’ rumours following Hamilton and Verstappen allegations

Lando Norris had denied that his friendship with Max Verstappen led him to race the reigning world champion more gently than Lewis Hamilton last season. The McLaren star was accused of giving the Red Bull driver an easy pass with his defending at the United States Grand Prix in Texas.

The 24-year-old put up little fight when Verstappen sailed past him to take the race lead, but when Hamilton attempted to follow the Dutchman through in the latter stages, Norris shoved him aggressively to the inside in a bid to retain the position.

Hamilton made the most of his experience to pass Norris regardless, jolting to a wide outside line before performing the switchback on the McLaren driver, who was struggling to match the pace of the two frontrunners on his older tyres. 

Unfortunately for Hamilton on this occasion, his hard work counted for little as the No.44 car was disqualified after the race following a random inspection of his W14’s plank. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also suffered the same fate. These rulings promoted Norris to P2 in the classification, while Verstappen clinched victory.

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Speaking to Motorsport.com about his decision-making on that occasion, Norris explained: “I know it’s a race at the end of the day, but the likelihood of losing a position to Max in Austin, and how I raced Lewis versus how I raced Max, in the end, I kind of knew I was going to lose positions to both of them.”

Discussing the role that friendship played, Norris added: “Would I have loved to be more forceful and put on a better defence? Absolutely. Like, why would I not? I love racing and that is what I want to do. I don’t want to ever give a position up to anyone! Especially not Max!

“People on the outside are too quick to judge again why I wouldn’t [race Verstappen hard]. [They say], ‘Ah it’s because he’s friends with Max’ and all of that stuff. Which couldn’t have anything less to do with it. If anything, it makes me want to beat someone more if I’m friends with them than if I’m not.”

Verstappen and Hamilton will likely be facing up against Norris on track much more often in 2024. Despite starting last season with the slowest car in the field, the 24-year-old recovered to sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, claiming seven podium finishes in the final 13 rounds of the campaign.