Norris responds to Verstappen’s grievances: ‘He can choose to retire’ if he wishes.
Defending champion Lando Norris has responded to Max Verstappen’s critique of Formula 1’s updated regulations, asserting that there is “nothing to complain about” from a driver’s standpoint and suggesting that his 2025 title contender can leave the sport if he disapproves of the new cars.
Verstappen described the new regulations as “anti-racing” following the second day of testing in Bahrain, claiming that the latest cars are less enjoyable to drive compared to their predecessors.
The essence of Verstappen’s position is that the focus on energy management under the new rules prevents drivers from operating “flat-out” without depleting the power unit’s battery, which adversely affects overall lap times.
Last year, the four-time world champion indicated he might consider exiting F1 if he finds the new cars unexciting to drive; however, when asked the same question on Thursday, he replied, “let’s see.”
In contrast, Norris believes the new cars remain enjoyable to drive, stating that the rest of the grid, including Verstappen, are welcome to exit the sport if they do not find it satisfying.
“I had a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it,” he remarked. “So yeah, if he wants to retire he can retire.
“Formula 1 evolves constantly; sometimes it’s a bit more enjoyable to drive, sometimes not as much. But at the end of the day, we are compensated handsomely to drive, so there’s really no room for complaints.”
“Any driver can choose to pursue other opportunities, you know? It’s not as if he or any driver is obligated to be here.
“It’s a challenge, but it’s an enjoyable challenge for both engineers and drivers. It’s different; you have to adapt your driving style and manage things in a new way. But you still get to drive cars, travel the globe, and have a lot of fun. So, no, nothing to complain about.”
Norris also mentioned that Verstappen will continue to be a strong competitor in F1, irrespective of the regulations.
“I don’t expect Max to go out and not care, you know?” he stated.
– F1 testing: Charles Leclerc sets the pace on day 2 in Bahrain
– Mercedes, Red Bull encounter issues while Ferrari tops the charts — Day 2 as it happened
“He’s going to strive for victory, and Max will always give his all; he may just not smile as much, perhaps — that could be the case.
“It certainly doesn’t feel as fast as in previous years, and it doesn’t handle as flawlessly, but I’m confident that if he had started with this car, he would likely find it amazing.
“In comparison to the older cars, it doesn’t feel as aesthetically pleasing to drive, but it’s still quite good. And it’s still early days; this is the beginning of a regulation designed to be significantly slower.
“However, if you look ahead to the end of this year and consider next year, we will be going much quicker by then. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and can express what they wish to do.
“No one should be upset or complain about that. Every driver has their own views; he didn’t enjoy it, while I do.”
Source: espn.com
