He's lucky those papaya rules didn't blow the welds on the intake!

LONDON—As the Formula 1 off-season heats up, McLaren’s Lando Norris has fired a pointed warning shot at reigning champion Max Verstappen. Fresh off a solid campaign, Norris expressed confidence in his ability to challenge Verstappen in the upcoming season.

“Dude, I almost had you!” Norris declared during a press conference. “Okay, maybe not in the championship standings or on most Sundays, but there was a moment there that you were worried. That’s basically a win in my book.”

Norris’s comment drew oos and ahhs from the room, though Verstappen, known for his icy composure, reportedly took it seriously—not a rare occurrence. “You almost had me?” Verstappen responded. “You never had me, you never had your car.”

McLaren’s resurgence in the latter half of the season has given Norris reason to believe he can close the gap to Red Bull. “We’ve got upgrades coming, and I’ve been grinding in the sim,” Norris explained. “Max better watch out. This year, I’m not just chasing podiums. I’m chasing glory—and maybe Piastri will decide to help me this time.”

Team principal Andrea Stella backed his driver’s enthusiasm. “Lando has shown tremendous growth. He’s no longer just the funny guy on the grid—he’s a funny guy who’s occasionally fast enough to worry Max, at least in qualifying.”

When asked if he takes Norris’s warning seriously, Verstappen shrugged. “Granny shiftin' not double clutchin' like he should. He's lucky those papaya rules didn't blow the welds on the intake! He almost had me?”

The rivalry may not yet be a headline battle, but with Norris’s newfound bravado and Verstappen’s dominance, fans can look forward to what promises to be another thrilling season—at least for one of them..