In the wake of a fiery Austrian Grand Prix, Lando Norris initially expressed his frustrations over a clash with Max Verstappen, demanding an apology from the Red Bull driver. However, after some reflection, the McLaren driver has reconsidered his earlier stance.
During the tension-filled race, Norris attempted to overtake Verstappen at Turn 3, a move that led to a contact between the two cars. Both drivers suffered rear-wheel punctures, forcing Norris to retire from the race due to the extensive damage. At the moment, Norris was vocal about his disappointment, stating that he would lose respect for Verstappen if he didn’t admit fault.
Yet, days later, Norris took a step back to reassess the situation. “Honestly, I don’t think he needed to apologize,” Norris admitted during a press conference. He acknowledged that his initial reactions were fueled by the high adrenaline and intense emotions running through him immediately after the incident. “A lot of adrenaline, a lot of emotions, I probably said some things I didn’t necessarily believe, especially later on in the week,” he explained.
The contact, described by Norris as one of the smallest yet most impactful, did not warrant an apology in his view after further consideration. “It wasn’t like a hit, it wasn’t like an obvious bit of contact, it was probably one of the smallest bits of contact you could have but with a pretty terrible consequence for both of us,” Norris elaborated. Despite the unfortunate outcome, he sees the incident as part of the sport’s unpredictable nature.
Norris has learned valuable lessons from racing against Verstappen, acknowledging that the Red Bull driver has a unique racing style. “Max has a very different way of racing compared to a lot of others, and that’s some of the reasons why he’s a champion,” Norris observed, noting the intensity of their on-track battles. While he did not go into specifics, he emphasized that racing at the top entails different strategies and approaches than those further down the grid.
Looking ahead, Norris remains eager to continue competing against Verstappen, excited for future races. “I thoroughly enjoyed the whole fight I had with him,” he stated, despite the setback from the Austria clash. Currently, Norris trails Verstappen by 81 points in the Drivers’ Championship, with McLaren holding third in the Constructors’ standings.
While the Austrian Grand Prix clash with Verstappen was a moment of high tension for Lando Norris, the McLaren driver has decided to put the incident behind him and focus on future races. His revised perspective highlights the emotions involved in racing and the learning experiences that come with competing at the highest level.
