Lando Norris and Max Verstappen have helped put on a bit more of a show for the drivers’ championship than fans have been accustomed to over the last few seasons.
Although we didn’t get a spectacular finale, they did at least clash on multiple occasions and provide some much-needed drama in Austria, Mexico City and the United States Grand Prix.
Their friendship was tested on a few instances but largely remains intact as they reach the final race of the year at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Now McLaren and Ferrari will provide the championship fight that everyone has been longing for, as they bid to end respective 16-year title droughts in the Middle East.
George Russell has done to Max Verstappen what people were ‘calling on’ Lando Norris to do
Norris has played a bit of a conservative approach this season, taking time to learn various things about being in such an intense battle.
He hasn’t been overly aggressive with Verstappen – which may help him in the future, but he hasn’t asserted much over his Dutch rival either.
This week’s ongoing feud between Verstappen and George Russell highlights an ability to do something which people have called for Norris to do for a while according to Sky Sports F1’s Craig Slater.
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“I suppose George Russell has done the sort of thing that many people are calling on Lando Norris to do this year. Lando chose a different path to try and find a middle ground with Max.
“A kind of appeasement, but not to take him on head-on and fight fire with fire. It’s interesting that George has chosen to do that.
“Whether that has anything to do with Max maybe coming to Mercedes one day, or I don’t know. That’s another layer to this.”
Could a Russell vs Verstappen rivalry open the door for Norris?
A few feisty exchanges between Verstappen and Russell could be exactly what Norris needs to swoop by and earn his maiden Formula 1 title.
That requires a few things for starters, including Mercedes to find some pace over the winter, and for McLaren to maintain their speed.
Red Bull also needs to find some solutions, or risk being denied the chance to fight for a fifth consecutive championship.
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But making extra enemies like Russell will only make their lives trickier, and set up a thrilling season for fans before the technical regulations change in 2026.
There could easily be a four-way fight for the constructors, and a six-car+ brawl for the drivers if things continue to close up at the front, setting up one of the most fascinating seasons in history.
