Quarrels in Formula 1 "It was pathetic how Norris acted on the radio"

dpa

4.7.2024 - 08:34

After the spat at Spielberg, things are likely to get heated between Max Verstappen (l) and Lando Norris at Silverstone.
After the spat at Spielberg, things are likely to get heated between Max Verstappen (l) and Lando Norris at Silverstone.
dpa

There is hardly any time to cool tempers. After the heated and consequential duel between world champion Verstappen and his challenger in Red Bull country, the action now continues in Norris' territory.

4.7.2024 - 08:34

Even in the home country of challenger Lando Norris, Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will not back down after the spat in Spielberg. Verstappen's Red Bull team boss Christian Horner made this clear ahead of the British Grand Prix.

"What Max enters, he certainly won't change," he told British broadcaster Sky Sports. "Max is a tough racing driver - probably one of the toughest on the track. And everyone knows that he gives everything when someone is racing against him."

The Dutchman and his challenger recently clashed in Spielberg. Verstappen was given a time penalty for a maneuver that forced Norris to retire prematurely in his McLaren, but still managed to cross the finish line in fifth place. The 26-year-old Dutchman extended his lead over the 24-year-old Briton in the standings. Before Norris' home race this weekend at Silverstone, he has 81 points.

Marko teases: Norris' reaction on the radio "was pathetic"

There will inevitably be more close duels between the two, predicted Horner in view of the cars' close performance. The friendship between the two racing drivers also seems to be at stake. "If he says he did nothing wrong, then I lose respect for him," Norris emphasized in Spielberg.

"It was pathetic how Norris acted on the radio," said Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko, who is close to Verstappen, in an interview with the oe24.at portal. "But these things happen and I would tick it off as a racing accident, although Norris was more likely to have crossed the line." Comments from Norris that Verstappen should apologize were not very helpful.

dpa