Norris and Piastri Hope Verstappen Stays in F1

Woking, England - Formula One's four-time world champion Max Verstappen faces growing speculation about his future in the sport amid his vocal dissatisfaction with the 2026 engine regulations, but peers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri expressed hope Wednesday that he will remain on the grid to pursue a fifth title.

Speaking at a McLaren event at the team's Woking headquarters, Norris, the reigning champion who edged Verstappen by two points last season, predicted the Dutch driver would stay longer than rumored. "I also saw that he said he wants to win a fifth world championship, so you know, I'm sure he'll stay longer than people say," Norris told reporters. He acknowledged Verstappen's right to choose his path after four consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024, adding, "It would be a shame and a miss for the sport if that does happen... because he probably is one of the best drivers you'll see in Formula One ever."

Piastri, Norris's teammate, echoed the sentiment, calling a potential departure a "big loss for the sport as a whole" and "not a great look." The Australian, who finished second in Japan earlier this month, emphasized the value of competing against top talent. "As...