LANDO NORRIS SNUBS VERSTAPPEN AND HAMILTON TO NAME "FLYING SCOT" DREAM TEAMMATE
Discover why world champion Lando Norris calls Zak Brown his "dream boss" and picks "The Flying Scot" as his ideal partner.
When Lando Norris was asked about his dream F1 teammate, he didn’t pick Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen. He skipped right past the obvious choices.
Norris finally clinched the Drivers’ Championship in 2025—the first one of his career. It was a tight race. He edged out Verstappen by just two points, 423 to 421, shutting down Verstappen’s run for a fifth straight title.
He’s been stuck with McLaren since his debut at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix. It took a few seasons for Norris to really get in the mix with guys like Hamilton and Verstappen. Remember Russia in 2021? He almost snagged his first win but lost out to Hamilton in the end. Last season, in 2024, he finished second to Verstappen in the championship.
McLaren’s been on a roll, too. They grabbed the Constructors’ Championship two years in a row since Andrea Stella stepped in as team principal in 2022. Norris always has good things to say about both Stella and CEO Zak Brown. Back in 2024, he even called them his “dream bosses”.
“I’m very happy with Zak,” Norris told the F1 website. “He’s the team boss. Obviously, the team principal is still Mr Stella. But as a boss, Zak is good, and he’s a golfer, too. When your boss asks if you want to play golf, it’s like, ‘Ahh.’”
But when it comes to picking a dream teammate, Norris didn’t go with any of his current rivals. He picked Jackie Stewart. “I love Jackie, so I’d pick Jackie Stewart. And I want to drive alongside Jackie, so I’ll pick myself!” he said.
So, who’s Jackie Stewart? He raced from 1965 to 1973 and won three world titles—’69, ’71, and ’73. They called him “The Flying Scot”. In 1973, Sports Illustrated named him “Sportsman of the Year”. No other racing driver has won that. Stewart picked up 17 pole positions, 27 wins, and stood on the podium 43 times. Now, at 86, he’s the oldest living Grand Prix winner and the last surviving F1 world champ from the 1960s.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
