Max Verstappen has revealed the two drivers he would have on his team if he found himself in the position of a team boss.
At just 26 years old, Verstappen’s career as an F1 racing driver shows no sign of coming to an end anytime soon, but the Dutch driver has been open about wanting to pursue other avenues in motorsport once he leaves F1 behind.
While becoming an F1 team boss hasn’t been on Verstappen’s list, the reigning World Champion had a little bit of fun thinking about who he would have driving for his team if he ended up suddenly having to carry out Christian Horner’s duties.
Speaking in an extensive interview with the German publication Auto Motor und Sport, Verstappen was asked who he would choose to have as his two drivers if he were in such a position of authority.
“Can I choose myself?” he questioned, confirming he’d race for his own team if the rules allowed.
Verstappen didn’t select his current Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, nor did he indicate fellow World Champions Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso. Instead, the Dutch driver indicated his contemporary – a driver who is still to claim their first Grand Prix victory – by glancing over at the McLaren team.
“I would choose Lando [Norris],” he said. “He’s still young, with a long career ahead of him. And he can also be very, very fast.”
If Verstappen were not permitted to select himself as one of the drivers, he accentuated the potency of McLaren's lineup by stating he would nab both their drivers from Woking.
“I would take Lando and Oscar [Piastri],” he said.
“So the McLaren pairing. Both are good. Lando is just a bit older than Oscar.
“I think Oscar is a fast rookie. He still has things to learn and can improve his race pace, for example. But from what I see, he’s a smart guy. He will win his races.”
Verstappen’s remarks come following a year in which both Norris and Red Bull openly flirted with the prospect of potentially becoming teammates. Verstappen and Norris are acknowledged to be friends (although not 'BFFs' as Norris was particularly eager to highlight in Abu Dhabi), with both expressing their willingness to consider racing together.
However, at present, this seems improbable as Norris remains contracted to McLaren until the conclusion of 2025 – a year after the seat alongside Verstappen becomes available, with Perez entering the final year of his deal with Milton Keynes.
Possible scenarios encompass a Perez contract extension, a return of Daniel Ricciardo to the RBR team, or a surprise signing like Liam Lawson. Facilitating Norris's move would likely necessitate a substantial contract settlement to part ways with McLaren, assuming McLaren were open to such a notion.
Yet, amongst the 19 drivers on the grid, who does Verstappen consider to be the most challenging teammate for him? Verstappen couldn't pinpoint a specific individual.
“From the current driver line-up? I don’t know,” he said.
“Everyone is different in different cars. I find it difficult to pick one because there are so many good racing drivers at the moment.”