Formula 1 After accident: Norris disappointed by friend Verstappen
In Austria there was a serious accident between World Championship rivals Max Verstappen (left) and Lando Norris. Photo
© Erwin Scheriau/APA/dpa
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris fought for victory. But then there was a clash between the Formula 1 drivers – and Norris and his team made accusations.
The serious accident involving World Championship rivals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix could also have consequences for the friendship between the two Formula 1 drivers. “If he says he didn’t do anything wrong, then I’ll lose respect for him,” said Briton Norris about his friend Verstappen. “That’s hard to take. I tried to be fair, he didn’t,” added the 24-year-old McLaren racing driver after the crash.
In a hard-fought duel, Norris and Verstappen collided shortly before the end of the race. Verstappen was blamed for the contact. The race was over for Norris, while Verstappen was able to continue and finished in fifth place. After the eleventh of 24 races of the season, the 26-year-old Dutchman in the Red Bull is now 81 points ahead of Norris and is even more clearly in the lead than before.
Norris clearly: Was not my mistake
Norris and Verstappen have been good friends for years and often fly together to their adopted home of Monaco after races. Both have spent their free time together there in the past and documented it on social media. The relationship between the two is now strained after the avoidable accident. “He ruined his own race too, not just mine. It wasn’t my fault,” said Norris: “I’m just disappointed. I was looking forward to a fair fight, but it wasn’t.”
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella also saw it that way. “We have so much respect for Red Bull and Max, they don’t have to do something like that,” said the Italian. “That’s a way of damaging your reputation.” The main criticism was that Verstappen reacted to the movements of Norris’ car in the corners after braking. This is prohibited under the regulations. Verstappen received a ten-second time penalty for attempting the accident.
dpa
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