Lando Norris says Max Verstappen can retire if he doesn't like 2026 Formula 1 cars

Verstappen delivered a candid assessment of the 2026 F1 cars, giving them the worst description imaginable: that they felt like Formula E cars on steroids.

But the four-time F1 Champion has never been known for mincing his words, and to be honest, when a driver of his caliber speaks out, Formula One Management and the FIA should take note as they willingly send the sport into a new era with the outcome being far from clear as we stand.

However, Verstappen's rival and reigning F1 Champion, Norris, has a different view on the matter, as he claimed that the challenge of driving the new cars was a "lot of fun" and that he was enjoying it before adding: "So, yeah, if he [Verstappen] wants to retire, he can retire."

That would make defending the Championship quite easier for Norris if you come to think of it.

"Formula 1 changes all the time," the McLaren driver went on. "Sometimes it's a bit better to drive; sometimes it's not as good to drive.

"We get paid a stupid amount of money to drive, so you can't really complain at the end of the day. Any driver can go and find something else to do. It's not like he has to be here or any driver has to be here. It's a challenge, but it's a good, fun challenge for the engineers, for the drivers.

"It's different," he insisted. "You have to drive it in a different way and understand things differently and manage things differently.

"But I still get to drive cars and travel the world and have a lot of fun, so nothing to complain about," he concluded.

That last phrase probably highlights the difference between Verstappen's and Norris' approaches to racing: a pure racer vs. someone there for the ride and the fun. (Reporting by Agnes Carlier)