A recent incident at the Austrian Grand Prix where Max Verstappen and Lando Norris were involved in a late-race crash has reignited discussions about their ongoing competition and off-track relationship. Historically, Verstappen and Norris have showcased a strong bond, often seen traveling together after races. However, the aftermath of the crash saw a shift, with Norris, clearly upset, awaiting an apology, and McLaren team boss Andreas Stella publicly dissatisfied with Verstappen’s maneuvers.
Norris commented to the media following the race at the Red Bull Ring, as quoted by GPBlog:
“It depends what he says. If he says he did nothing wrong, then I’ll lose a lot of respect for that. If he admits to being stupid, running into me, and being reckless, then I have a small amount of respect.
“I’m disappointed. It was a good race. I looked forward to a fair battle, but I wouldn’t say that’s what it was. Tough one to take. A mistake-free race from myself. I did a good job, but I was taken out of the race. You’re not allowed to react to another driver, and that’s what he did three times out of three. Two times, I managed to avoid it. Third time, he ran into me. He ruined his own race as much as he ruined mine.”
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Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s team principal, has now clarified the post-crash dynamics between the two racers. Horner confirmed that Norris and Verstappen had exchanged words since the incident, as quoted by GPBlog:
“I understand they’ve spoken already, I don’t think there is any issue. Certainly, from Max’s side, he’s not going to change. There’s an element, I think, of Lando learning how to race Max and they’re discovering that. Inevitably, there is going to be more close racing between the two of them as the cars look so close over the forthcoming races.”
Verstappen’s assertive racing style has been a hallmark of his career, admired by some and criticized by others. Horner elaborates on this characteristic, stating:
“Max is a hard racer – he’s probably one of the hardest racers on the circuit, and everybody knows that if you’re going to race against Max, he’s going to give as good as he gets.”
Looking ahead, the intensity of the rivalry is only expected to escalate. With the British Grand Prix at Silverstone just around the corner, all eyes will be on these two drivers.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.