The Miami Grand Prix on May 4, 2025 will not only be remembered for McLaren’s dominant performance, but also for Lando Norris’s sharp words towards Max Verstappen. After an intense opening lap in which Norris lost four places due to Verstappen’s aggressive defending, the Briton fiercely criticized Max Verstappen in the press conference: “Max is not racing smart. He is ruining his own race.” The remark, as reported by GPFans, caused a stir, especially since Norris, despite his talent, does not yet have a world title, while Verstappen is a four-time champion. The statement led to heated discussions on X, with fans praising Norris’s courage, but others advising him to show respect.

The rivalry between Norris and Verstappen flared up when the Dutchman slammed the door on Norris at the start of the race, who was trying to take the lead. Verstappen locked his front tyre at Turn 1, forcing Norris out and losing 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 middle finger, a gesture that underlined his emotions. “That’s always the way with Max,” Norris said after the race, as quoted by F1Maximaal, suggesting that Verstappen’s driving style often crossed the line. Still, Norris managed to fight back to second place, behind 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 left him fourth, 34 seconds behind Piastri. His frustration was audible on the radio, where he described the car as “disconnected”. Red Bull’s struggles this season, with McLaren the clear leader in the constructors’ championship, appear to be testing Verstappen’s patience. Still, he remains third in the drivers’ standings, behind Piastri and Norris, who are 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 sees Verstappen’s dominant style as a weakness, while Verstappen said in Japan earlier this year that he would “lap anyone for three” in McLaren’s superior car.

Norris’s criticism is not new. Back in 2024, he raised concerns about Verstappen’s aggressive approach, such as after their collision in Austria, where both suffered a puncture. At the time, Norris demanded an apology, which never came, although they later talked the incident out. This season, with McLaren’s faster car, Norris has appeared more confident. His comment that Verstappen is “not racing smart” reflects his frustration with the latter’s uncompromising style, but also raises questions about Norris’s own position. As one X user wrote: “Norris is allowed to criticise, but ridiculing a four-time champion without a title himself? That’s bold.” Others, such as Sky Sports analyst Ralf Schumacher, noted that Norris’s recent mistakes, such as his crash in Saudi Arabian qualifying, show his weakness under pressure.

McLaren’s dominance in Miami, with Piastri’s win and Norris’ podium, underlined their technical advantage. McLaren CEO Zak Brown praised his drivers but denied Red Bull allegations of illegal tyre cooling. Verstappen, backed by Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko, remains focused on upgrades but the gap to McLaren is growing. Norris’ self-criticism, such as his comment after Bahrain that “something between me and the car doesn’t click,” 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 taciturn approach.

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