The ongoing tension between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris has taken another twist as McLaren’s official account shared a clip of Sky F1’s Anthony Davidson analyzing the controversial contact between the two drivers during the Austrian Grand Prix. The post on social media platform X has reignited the debate among fans and experts.
In the video, Davidson, a former Formula 1 test driver and now Sky Sports pundit, uses onboard camera footage to illustrate that Max Verstappen moved under braking during several of Norris’ overtake attempts. McLaren captioned the clip: “Thorough analysis from former F1 test driver and expert pundit Anthony Davidson on not just Lando and Max’s incident, but ones that have gone before… 👀”
Thorough analysis from former F1 test driver and expert pundit Anthony Davidson on not just Lando and Max’s incident, but ones that have gone before… 👀#AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/MoqNe9jEzF
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) July 2, 2024
Reacting to McLaren’s post, Verstappen addressed the controversy directly. “I’ve seen the clip shared by McLaren and it’s clear they’re trying to stir things up,” Verstappen stated. “The data and the stewards’ decision are what really matter. They confirmed there was no basis for a penalty.”
The stewards’ report from the Austrian GP confirmed that while Verstappen did hinder Norris in the pitlane, the telemetry data and their review concluded that the Red Bull driver did not deserve a penalty for what was deemed an unsafe release against the McLaren driver.
Verstappen further added, “I race hard and fair, and the stewards agreed that there was no need for a penalty. It’s part of racing to have these intense moments, but we need to focus on what’s ahead and keep things professional.”