2023-07-09 06:27:42
Max Verstappen calls Lando Norris his best friend in the paddock. At Silverstone, the two buddies start side by side from the front row.
Silverstone.
The fun is over when the red lights go out – even for top pals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Today at the British Grand Prix, the 25-year-old Dutchman and the 23-year-old Briton are side by side on the front row of the grid.
“I think we’re very similar mentally in some things,” Norris said. “We’re here because we love it, we want to enjoy every minute in the paddock. But as soon as we put on the helmet, you forget everything else.”
The friendship will have to rest when it comes to the continuation of Verstappen’s winning streak, who has won all of the past five races, or a home win for Norris in front of well over 100,000 fans on the Silverstone Circuit.
Friendship here, friendship there
It would also be the first Grand Prix success for the McLaren driver, whose Australian teammate Oscar Piastri surprisingly managed to finish third in qualifying on Saturday.
But once again no one could get close to the world championship leader in the Red Bull, who snatched pole from Norris practically at the last second. Verstappen always breaks everything, Norris joked about the two-time world champion, who recently declared that Norris was his best friend in the paddock. And there is plenty of evidence of the good mood that both prepare for each other. Be it playing video games together or just after the knockout elimination for the race north-east of London.
“Lando can be a bit shy,” Verstappen once said, “but he’s a super nice guy and from the first year (in Formula 1) to today you can see how he’s grown.” In order to beat his buddy, however, Norris will have to surpass himself – friendship or friendship. (dpa)
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