Lando Norris amused by reaction to his comments on new Formula 1 cars

[p]Four-time world champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Verstappen[/a] told reporters during pre-season ‌testing in Bahrain last week that his car, ‌the first of a new engine era for the sport, ‌was like "Formula E on steroids" and not a lot ‌of fun.[/p][p]McLaren's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Norris[/a], who ended Verstappen's run of four titles in a row last year, had taken a contrary stance and ‌suggested the Dutch driver could "go and ⁠find something else to ‌do" if he was not happy.[/p][p]The rivals' comments fuelled an already ​lively online debate about what racing will be like this season and how fans and drivers ​might react[/p][p][b]"I just didn't want to come out to the media and complain to everyone on the first ⁠weekend back," [/b]Norris told ​reporters during testing on Thursday.[/p][embed guid="165a22b2-c469-4509-a0e7-37c11b40953e" url="https://x.com/McLarenF1/status/2024398621181870363" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"It's been quite an amusing week seeing the reactions ... it's certainly made a lot of people comment and say a lot of things which ‌has been pretty funny. I just wanted to see everyone's reaction."[/b][/p][p]Norris accepted that the new cars were very different to last year and "absolutely not" as enjoyable.[/p][p][b]"Is it still a challenge and good fun out there? Yeah,"[/b] he said. [b]"I'm certainly not going to change my job for anything else.[/b][/p][p][b]"I still have fun and it's still the job that I love to do. But it's certainly very ‌different."[/b][/p][p]Verstappen had suggested Norris was in a small pop-up ​tent, compared to the rest under a bigger ‌canvas, when asked if there were two camps of opinion.[/p][p]The Briton said he actually agreed with Verstappen on a lot of things.[/p][p][b]"Probably most of the comments I agree with, but it's not that I don't ⁠have fun out there," [/b]⁠he said.[/p][p]The season starts ‌in Melbourne on March 8.[/p]