Lando Norris’ girlfriend, Margarida Corceiro, responded with four words to the Formula 1 driver’s victory in the Brazilian GP and mocked Max Verstappen: “He only won thanks to LUCK and the preference of the FIA.” Margarida Corceiro also claimed that if Norris had raced in the same era as Verstappen, he would never have been hailed as a legend. His words went viral on social networks. But Max Verstappen responded with seven words that left Corceiro… speechless.

Tension in the world of Formula 1 reached a new high after Lando Norris’ spectacular victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 9, 2025. The British McLaren driver dominated the race at the iconic Interlagos circuit in São Paulo, where he started from pole and maintained the lead with an impeccable strategy. Norris finished with a comfortable lead over his teammate Oscar Piastri, surprising everyone, including his rival Max Verstappen, who made a heroic overtake but ultimately had to settle for third place. This victory reinforced Norris’ lead in the championship with 49 points ahead of Verstappen, and seemed like a turning point in a season full of intense duels.

As the champagne continued to spray in the parc ferme, social media exploded with reactions from fans, analysts and connoisseurs. But no one could have predicted that the biggest wave of controversy would come from Margarida Corceiro, better known as Magui, the Portuguese model and influencer who has been linked to Norris for more than a year. The couple, who met at the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters and have had an on-again, off-again relationship since then, often share intimate moments on Instagram. After the race, Norris posted a series of photos from the weekend: from sun-kissed qualifying to the euphoric podium ceremony, accompanied by the Portuguese song “Acelerada” by sma$her and MXZI, a nod to Magui’s roots.

Corceiro, who spent the weekend in the paddock and witnessed Norris’ victory up close, responded to the post with a simple but explosive comment: “Just luck and FIA preference.” Four words that hit me like a bomb. It was clearly a blow to Verstappen, whose victories in previous seasons have often been surrounded by arguments over stewards’ decisions and the perceived favor of the international motor sports federation. But Corceiro went further. In a follow-up story on his Instagram, which quickly garnered thousands of shares, he added: “If Lando had raced in Max’s era, he would never have achieved that legendary status. The talent speaks for itself, not the excuses.” This statement struck a chord with Verstappen fans, who see the Dutchman as a phenomenon who won three world titles in a row through sheer class, not “luck.”

The virality was instant. In a matter of hours, #MaguiVsMax became a trend on X (formerly Twitter), with memes, angry reactions and even messages of support from McLaren fans. “Finally someone who says it,” responded a fan from Portugal, while a Dutch fan responded: “Without Red Bull’s dominance, Verstappen would still win.” Corceiro’s post reached over two million views, and sports websites like Sportskeeda and GPFans delved into it, analyzing how this further fuels the already fragile rivalry between Norris and Verstappen. This was reminiscent of previous controversies, such as the collision in Austria earlier this year, where Norris accused Verstappen of driving aggressively. But this time it was personal and came from outside the cabin.

Corceiro, 22, known for Portuguese television series and fashion campaigns, is no stranger to the F1 gossip press. Her presence in the paddock since the 2025 Monaco GP has made her a polarizing figure. Some praise her as a supportive partner who motivates Norris; others criticize it for “disturbing” the sporting focus. He even recently liked a post by Kelly Piquet, Verstappen’s ex-partner and mother of his daughter, which sparked speculation about a mutual link. But his words now seemed to go too far. Experts warn that this could increase tensions at the track, where three races remain: Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. “This is fuel for the fire,” F1 commentator David Croft said in a podcast. “Norris has to handle this now or he will become a distraction.”

And then came the redeeming – or devastating – moment. Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion known for his calm demeanor outside the car, did not immediately respond. He first celebrated his own podium with a wink to the crowd, acknowledging that his move from P17 to P3 was “something special” despite the setup issues. But that same night, during a live interview on Viaplay, a journalist asked the question. Verstappen, with his characteristic dry humor, looked directly at the camera and said: “Seven words: Magui, stay as a model and leave the racing to us.” The studio erupted in laughter and the clip immediately went viral with millions of views.

These seven words left Corceiro speechless. Sources say she didn’t even like the post, much less the comment, a rare moment of silence for the ever-active influencer. His followers are speculating about a backlash, with comments like “Max 1, Magui 0” dominating the trending topics. Norris himself remained diplomatic at the press conference: “I focus on the title, not the comments. Max is a champion and I respect him.” But insiders whisper that the couple had a difficult conversation that night, and Norris asked her to be more careful with public statements.

This episode illustrates the unique combination of sport and celebrity in modern F1. While drivers like Verstappen and Norris compete on the asphalt, their teammates play a role in the narrative outside the lines. Corceiro’s outburst is reminiscent of past dramas like the ‘Drive to Survive’ rivalry that portrayed the duo as archenemies while they got along well off the track – they both live in Monaco and even share training tips. However, this incident has widened the gap. Verstappen fans celebrate it as a comeback masterclass, while Norris fans downplay it as “just an opinion.”

As the season progresses, with Norris strengthening his lead, the question remains: will this be a footnote in history or the spark that ignites the title race? Interlagos has always launched fireworks, this time not only on the track. For now, Corceiro is silent, but in the world of F1, silence is usually the prelude to the next storm. Fans wait, eyes on Las Vegas, where the lights shine brighter than the social media spotlights.