F1 News: Lando Norris Playfully Jabs At Max Verstappen - "Home Race For Me!"

Norris Jokes About Shared Belgian Roots with Verstappen Ahead of Dutch Grand Prix.

Lando Norris humorously claims the Dutch Grand Prix as his 'home race' due to his Belgian birthplace, just like his best friend Max Verstappen. Both drivers share Belgian roots, but while Verstappen races under the Dutch flag, Norris competes under the British Union Jack.

Lando Norris, the McLaren driver who has finally been able to show just how a skilled he is behind the wheel of his Papaya car, has humorously called the Dutch Grand Prix his own "home race", taking a friendly dig at Max Verstappen's heritage. 

In the style of humour we expect (and love) from Lando, he comments on the similarities between him and his championship-leading friend while talking to Sky Sports F1. 

“The Dutch fans are always very supportive of me,” Norris told the press. “I mean Max was born in Belgium, right? As was I, so if this is a home race for him, it’s a home race for me.”

Despite racing under the British flag and growing up in Bristol, Norris' birthplace is indeed Belgium, thanks to his mother’s side of the family. A similar connection ties Verstappen to Belgium, where he was born, although he later chose to represent the Netherlands in his motorsport career. The decision was influenced by his close relationship with his father, Jos Verstappen, and his identification as more Dutch.

The racing camaraderie between Norris and Verstappen goes back years, characterised by their playful jabs and mutual respect. And while Verstappen's orange-clad fans currently dominate Zandvoort, there's a fun possibility of Norris doing equally as well this weekend, spurred on by the "papaya" of Verstappen's fans.