WATCH: Verstappen and Norris collide, McLaren boss blames Max
A dramatic late-race collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris was the highlight of the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.
Verstappen looked in control for most of the race but a slow pit stop by Red Bull allowed Norris to close down the gap. With 15 laps remaining, the British driver was within DRS of the leader and made several attempts to overtake before tensions boiled over on Lap 64. The two drivers made contact on turn 3 with both picking up punctures.
Norris’ race was over while Verstappen pitted for new tyres to finish fifth. After the race, the British driver expressed his frustration.
“Clearly a little bit on the back foot in terms of overall pace comparing to Max, the first and second stint he would always just edge away that little bit. But they just seemed to make a lot more mistakes than what we did,” he said as per F1.
Norris and Verstappen crash in Austria
“They messed up their pit stop which is rare from them, but clearly a bit of pressure from their side and they started to slip up a little bit. But I felt like I drove a good race. I kept myself in the fight the whole time.
Norris and Verstappen have had a good relationship off-track for many years but tension between the two has now boiled over. When asked if the crash would affect their friendship, the McLaren driver said Max has to take the blame.
“It’s not for me to say, it’s for him to say something.“I did nothing wrong – he was the one in the wrong, so he’s the one that should say something, not me.”
McLaren boss Andreas Stella said Max Verstappen’s racing against Norris was not within the regulations.
“It’s not about racing in a driver’s way. It’s about racing within the regulations.”
“If you don’t address these things honestly, they will come back. They have come back today because they were not addressed properly in the past where there were fights with Lewis that needed to be punished in a harsher way.”
