The Mercedes winning its first silverware in two years was the highlight of the Austrian GP. However, Land Norris and Max Verstappen’s collusion stole the show. It was a trending topic among experts and aficionados. While the two are great friends, this incident could destabilize their relationship.
Verstappen enjoyed a healthy lead while the two started on P1 and P2. Although Norris continued his pursuit of the top, he failed consistently. In an attempt to overtake Norris-Verstappen had several near misses. However, on lap 64, the inevitable happened, and the two collided. This resulted in a puncture for both, while Norris had to retire early. The two racers gave their POV of the situation, blaming one another for the incident.
Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, And The Battle Of Turn Three
Lando Norris reflected on his collision with Max Verstappen, expressing his disappointment over the incident. He had anticipated a fair and strong battle but felt the race did not turn out that way. Norris described the race as mistake-free on his part, and he believed he had performed well, only to be taken out of the race due to the collision. Moreover, Norris pointed out that Verstappen violated a rule prohibiting reacting to the other driver’s movements. He noted that Verstappen did this three times, causing Norris to avoid contact twice, but on the third occasion, Verstappen ran into him. “I mean, there’s a rule. You’re not allowed to react to the other driver, and that’s what he did three times out of three,” Norris explained. Norris emphasized that he was merely trying to drive his race, and Verstappen, slower towards the end, ruined both races with his actions. “He ruined his own race just as much as he ruined mine,” Norris remarked, highlighting the mutual negative impact of the collision.
On the other hand, Max Verstappen expressed a need to review the incident to understand how and why they made contact. He acknowledged that they would discuss the matter and noted that the collision was unfortunate. Moreover, the Dutchman remarked that Norris sometimes made very late braking maneuvers, describing one instance where Norris went straight and another where he had to avoid contact by going around a sausage curb. “I felt like sometimes he dive-bombed so late on the brakes,” Verstappen explained.
He also pointed out that the shape of the corner contributed to such incidents, noting that he had experienced similar situations in the past. Despite the circumstances, Verstappen admitted that it is never pleasant to have a collision with another driver. “It’s never nice to come together,” he concluded, reflecting on the unfortunate nature of the incident.
Verstappen Blaims Red Bull For ‘Clumsiness’
Max Verstappen lashed out at his team after the incident. When asked about the early near calls, he replied they were at a safe distance and that the actions were not hazardous. Furthermore, he thought Norris and the RBR crew were clumsy, as the collision might have been prevented.
Moreover, he thought about his tactics, wondering if he had allowed the room for overtaking. The three-time world champion expressed his enthusiasm for the race and unwavering desire to win. As a result, things happen at such intense times, even if you don’t want to get into a collision or crash. Furthermore, the champion racer expressed his displeasure with the team, alleging they did a ‘lot of stuff wrong.’ He highlighted the bad pit stops, which reduced the healthy lead.