Lando Norris has voiced his disagreement with Red Bull’s latest ruling on his collision with Max Verstappen during the Austrian Grand Prix. The incident, which resulted in punctures for both drivers and opened the door for George Russell to secure Mercedes’ first victory since November 2022, has sparked significant debate in the F1 community.
Red Bull’s outgoing Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey, refrained from assigning blame to either driver, suggesting the clash was a result of heightened tensions on the track. “It was one of those where everybody was getting a little bit fractious,” Newey stated to Sky F1.
However, Lando Norris has taken issue with this perspective. “I respect Adrian Newey and his expertise, but I strongly believe that the responsibility for the collision lies with Max,” Norris said during a press conference ahead of the British Grand Prix. “The FIA needs to ensure that aggressive driving is properly addressed to maintain the integrity of the sport. We can’t have incidents like these go unpunished.”
The collision, which occurred in the closing laps of the race, saw Norris retire after making it to the pits, while Verstappen finished fifth despite receiving a 10-second penalty for causing the incident. This has left many questioning the consistency and fairness of the FIA’s rulings.
McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella echoed Norris’s sentiments, attributing the incident to the FIA’s failure to penalize Verstappen adequately for his aggressive driving style, particularly referencing previous clashes with Lewis Hamilton in 2021.
Red Bull’s Christian Horner defended Verstappen, suggesting Norris “didn’t behave correctly” during the race. Helmut Marko dismissed Norris’s complaints as “pathetic,” further intensifying the controversy.
Despite Horner’s claims that Verstappen and Norris have resolved the issue ahead of the British Grand Prix, Norris remains unconvinced. “We may have spoken, but that doesn’t mean I agree with the outcome. I’m committed to racing fairly and expect the same from my competitors,” Norris asserted.
As the F1 world turns its attention to Silverstone, the tension between Norris and Verstappen promises to add an extra layer of drama to an already highly anticipated race.
