Red Bull makes Mike Tyson comparison over Max Verstappen’s Lando Norris friendship

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris remained good friends with one another despite a fierce rivalry in the 2024 season.

Red Bull makes Mike Tyson comparison over Max Verstappen’s Lando Norris friendship

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris shaking hands (via Formula 1), Mike Tyson (via Imagn Images)

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris showcased a great rivalry in the 2024 season for the drivers’ title. Both clashed heads on multiple occasions and went through some heated moments. Regardless of the on-track antics, both made up with one another after Verstappen won the drivers’ championship. Amidst the ongoing rivalry, Red Bull made a bizarre comparison over the friendship between the two.

The team boss Christian Horner reckoned that Max Verstappen had other friendships in Formula 1 apart from Lando Norris. Both of them were good pals and traveled to many race weekends together. However, the close-cut competition between the two in the 2024 season caused the media to exaggerate the issues and pressures between the two.

Max has other friendships in F1, Lando Norris is a good pal of his. They’ve traveled to many races, but inevitably, that gets put under pressure when you’re competing.

Christian Horner told talkSPORT
YouTube video

While speaking about the friendship between competitors in Formula 1, Horner referenced the boxing legend Mike Tyson. The Briton questioned if Tyson would befriend the opponents before a fight. The 50-year-old acknowledged that the American boxer might be friends with his rivals after a fight but definitely not during the build-up.

Is [heavyweight boxer] Tyson Fury going to be mates with his opponent? Maybe after the fight but certainly not in the build up to it.

Christian Horner added

Max Verstappen asserted that such issues during rivalries were ‘normal’

Max Verstappen despite commenting harshly on Norris over the season backed down on his words and opened up about his friendship. The 27-year-old noted that the two got on well despite tense moments while racing on track. The Dutchman further suggested that while fighting for a world championship, these kinds of issues were normal.

Lando and I, we get on very well. Of course, at times it got a bit tense on track, but off track, that shouldn’t matter. We always try to do the best we can on track to get the best possible result. You are fighting for a World Championship, so I think it’s normal that these kind of things can happen, but we’re good.

Max Verstappen told talkSPORT
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris (via Red Bull)
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris (via Red Bull)

McLaren’s dominant pace had disabled Red Bull to contend for the constructors’ championship over the 2024 season. Milton Keynes would have to work hard on their form to manage a better end to 2025. On the other hand, the Woking-based constructor only has to keep up with such performances and ensure no problems creep up in the chassis with updates.