F1 LIVE | Norris expects fired-up Verstappen as Ferrari hail 'mega good' scenario

The reigning world champion is convinced Verstappen’s edge will remain intact, regardless of how openly critical he has been of the new regulations.

Speaking to GPblog, Norris played down the idea that Verstappen’s frustration will translate into any drop in intensity on track, insisting the Dutchman’s competitive instincts are as sharp as ever. In his view, Verstappen will still be fully committed to fighting for wins, even if his enjoyment behind the wheel is slightly diminished.

Norris also shared his own take on the latest generation of cars, admitting they lack some of the raw speed and finesse of previous seasons. While acknowledging that the cars may not feel as refined or rewarding as older models, the Brit stressed they remain enjoyable to drive. He also underlined that differing opinions are inevitable, adding that every driver is entitled to their own view — Verstappen may not like the new cars, but for Norris, they still tick plenty of boxes.

Frederic Vasseur has welcomed Ferrari’s low profile so far in pre-season, insisting it puts the team in an ideal position heading into the new campaign.

Ferrari have quietly gone about their work, standing out for their power unit reliability after logging an impressive number of laps across the Barcelona and Bahrain tests. The SF-26 has also offered plenty of encouragement on track, showing competitive pace both on single laps and during longer race simulations.

Despite that, attention has largely centred on Red Bull and Mercedes, with the spotlight firmly on their back-and-forth over who currently holds the upper hand.

For Vasseur, that relative anonymity is exactly where Ferrari want to be. He admitted he is more than happy to stay out of the headlines, allowing the team to concentrate fully on its own work without distractions.