Max Verstappen leads the world championship by 70 points heading into this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. McLaren driver Lando Norris cut his advantage with a dominant victory at Zandvoort on Sunday.
It was the first time Verstappen had been defeated at his home track since it returned to the calendar in 2021. But it would still take a historic turnaround to deny him the title.
In all likelihood, Verstappen will be a four-time world champion come December. And so when he speaks on F1-related matters, he does so with increasing authority.
Earlier this year, Verstappen named his top five drivers of all time. Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso were the inclusions from the current grid, alongside Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and Juan Manuel Fangio.
And now, in an interview with the F1 kids correspondents for Sky Germany, he’s selected the two drivers he’d sign in 2024 if he was a team boss. Verstappen said before the Dutch GP that he’d completed over half his career, but there’s little indication that he wants to stay in the sport in a management role.
Instead, he seems likely to pursue other interests instead. That could take the form of another racing series, whether online or virtual.
Max Verstappen would pick Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for his own F1 team
In picking his line-up, Verstappen prioritised youth and long-term prospects. That led to him the McLaren duo of Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Norris’ victory at the weekend was just the second of his career after several missed opportunities. One of those was at the Hungarian GP, where Piastri passed him at the first corner to grab a maiden win.
Now that the Englishman has a contending car, though, he’s showing his class. He’s scored podiums in nine out of 15 races this year, second only to Verstappen (10).
Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren, Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren and Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing pose…
Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images
Norris may only be a year older than Piastri, but he’s completed 82 more races (119 vs 37). The 2023 entrant is the youngest driver on the F1 grid ahead of Logan Sargeant and Yuki Tsunoda.
Asked for his desired combination, Verstappen said: “Young drivers, Lando Norris and yeah maybe Oscar Piastri.”
Why Red Bull chief Helmut Marko is a big fan of McLaren duo
Many would argue that McLaren currently boast the strongest driver line-up in F1. Having narrowed the gap on Red Bull to 30 points, they’re arguably the favourites to take the constructors’ title from here.
Next year, Hamilton will link up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari to form a potentially all-time great partnership. But Norris and Piastri may be the drivers to beat by then.
Even Helmut Marko says McLaren have a better pairing than Red Bull. He appreciates the fact that the ‘young and hungry’ duo are able to ‘work well together’.
If Verstappen moves to Mercedes for 2026, then Red Bull may make Norris their top target to replace him. Fortunately for McLaren, he’s still protected by a long-term contract.