Lando Norris says Max Verstappen is welcome 🥀to test the McLaren MCL39 following the Dutchman’s commen🐲ts about the competitiveness of its Formula 1 car in 2025.

Following an unlikely victory from pole position in the Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull star 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Verstappen quipped that “you wouldn’t have seen me” if he were driving a McLaren this year.

Lando Norris responds to Max Verstappen

“McLaren was faster I think, but they couldn't g♕et into the DRS to make a move,” he said at Suzuka.

ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ"I'm very ꧃happy with what I'm doing. I don't even want to think about if I'd been in that other car [McLaren]. Then you wouldn't have seen me.”

The remark indirectly pointed the finger at McLaren drivers Norris and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Oscar Piastri for failing to get the best maximum out of the car and losing to a slower168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Red Bull in Japan.

It was also meant to highlight a clear gulf in performance between the two cars, with McLaren dominating the ope💯ning two races in Australia and China before being defeated for the first time in 2025 by Verstappen’s RB21 last weekend.

Now, Norris has responded to Verstappen’s jibe, suggesting that the MCL39 isn’t as quick or driveabಞle as the four-time world champiꦍon expects.

In an inteౠrview ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain GP, the British said: “I don’t mind, he can say what he wants. I don’t care, hones🎃tly. Everyone can say what they want and believe what they want.

"I believe both Oscar [Piastri] and myself are good drivers. He is🌜 maybe better at some things but he is not better in every area."

“I have a lot of rౠespect for Mꩵax but I also know some things are not true, he can come and test our car any day that he wants and I’ll be excited to see the disappointment on his face after he gets out.”

Nevertheless, five-time grand prix winner Norris expects Verstappen to b🅷e a consiste𝔍nt title threat in 2025, saying “Max is close behind 🅷and I am sure he’s going to be behind and close behind for a long tim🐈e.”