Max Verstappen shared a touching moment with Lando Norris after clinching his fourth consecutive Formula 1 world championship at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. In a heartfelt conversation, Verstappen reassured Norris that he would one day become a world champion himself.
Throughout the 2024 F1 season, McLaren made remarkable progress, closing the gap to Red Bull and even surpassing them in terms of raw speed. This gave Norris a golden opportunity to challenge Verstappen for the drivers’ championship, leading to intense on-track battles, including some collisions, as both fought for race wins and podium positions. Their fierce rivalry raised questions about how their on-track competition might affect their off-track relationship.
After Verstappen secured his fourth title in Las Vegas, Norris approached him in a media interaction to offer his congratulations. The two drivers turned away from the cameras for a private conversation, which was picked up by microphones. Verstappen took the opportunity to assure Norris that he would eventually become world champion.
“I told you, many times, there will be a day when you will be world champion,” Verstappen told Norris.
“Let’s celebrate in Abu Dhabi,” Norris replied.
At present, Verstappen leads the championship with 403 points, while Norris sits in second place with 340 points.
Lando Norris, who finished second in the standings, expressed his admiration for Verstappen’s dominance after the race. In an interview with F1.com, Norris acknowledged his own disappointment in missing out on the title fight but praised Verstappen for his well-deserved victory.
“Congrats to Max – I’m disappointed I’m out of it, but Max deserved to win it. He drove a better season than I did, he deserved it more than anyone else,” Norris said. “Max just doesn’t have a weakness. When he’s got the best car he dominates, and when he doesn’t, he’s still always there to make your life tough and difficult.”
Verstappen’s fourth world title places him in an elite group of drivers, joining legends like Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel, who also have four championships to their name. As he looks to the future, Verstappen is already setting his sights on a potential fifth title, while Norris continues to chase his own dreams of securing the championship.
