In this cutthroat world of F1, it’s extremely difficult to maintain friendships. However, in the current scenario, this does not apply to teammates. In fact, we are seeing a lot of budding relationships between teammates on the grid, except maybe one. We are all aware, Red Bull men Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are not on the best of terms since the 2022 Brazilian GP. Now, the tensions might have subsided but there is no evidence of the two reigniting their friendship, partly because Verstappen already has a “best friend”. The Dutchman had recently confessed his friendship with Lando Norris. Addressing the same, Norris revealed how the bond between the two solidified.

There is a two-year age gap between Verstappen and Norris. The two had never raced together until the premier class. However, coming head to head in F1, the two have formed a healthy relationship off the track. This is a rare scenario for two drivers from different teams. However, Norris revealed to Speed Cafe the secret ingredient of their budding relationship.

“I think me and Max are very good friends,” said Norris. “We’ve kind of grown up, not exactly together, we’ve never really raced against each other until Formula 1, but we’ve grown up in a similar generation, similar times and I think we’ve always got along. I think we have the correct amount of respect away from the track, where you can get along and be mates, whatever it is. We get along and sometimes bump into each other, go for dinners, or go for a crêpe, whatever it is.”

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If you can’t bond over crêpes, we can’t help you! But the two young drivers definitely did, which is why they back each other whenever they can.

Max Verstappen stands up for Lando Norris before things started looking up for McLaren

No one can deny the quality of the young McLaren Brit. In fact, after Norris’s performance at the British GP, Red Bull’s Helmut Marko had to admit Norris was the strongest competitor among the young drivers. This is exactly why Verstappen defended Norris during McLaren’s poor stints on the track, which did not showcase Norris’s genuine quality.

Verstappen said, “Lando knows what he is doing, and that’s a good thing for McLaren. When he first joined Formula 1, he was a bit overwhelmed. Lando can be a bit shy but he’s a super nice guy and you can see, from the first year to now, how he’s grown as a person, and that helps his performance because he’s more confident.”

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The Brit definitely showcased his skills at the Silverstone track. It will be interesting to see how he fares in Hungary and if this friendship will be put to the test on the track.