Lando Norris and Max Verstappen have arrived at the first major flashpoint of their developing rivalry after a crash at the Austrian Grand Prix. Predictably, both teams have closed ranks in the days since.
Verstappen was on course for a comfortable victory at the Red Bull Ring, having built up a lead of over eight seconds. But a slow pit stop and a tyre-related loss of pace allowed Norris to wipe out the gap.
The two drivers then engaged in a prolonged scrap, with Verstappen pulling the McLaren along through the three DRS zones. Norris tried a move at turn three on lap 59 but couldn’t slow his car down in time and left the track, which meant he had to concede the position.
On lap 64, however, he took a different approach, attempting to force Verstappen off-line before the run to turn four by positioning his car on the outside. The world champion tried to apply the squeeze and they made contact, leaving both with a puncture.
Verstappen received a 10-second penalty but still managed to finish fifth, even after crawling back to the pits, while Norris retired. That meant the Dutchman extended his championship lead.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes the FIA legitimised the 26-year-old’s controversial tactics during his 2021 title battle with Lewis Hamilton. But Red Bull executive director Helmut Marko maintains that Norris was ‘a little more at fault’.
F1 fans slam McLaren for posting Sky analysis of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris crash
Sky Sports F1 pundit Anthony Davidson analysed the incident after Sunday’s race. Davidson implied that Verstappen hadn’t given Norris ‘a car’s width’ on the outside of the track, which meant he was to blame.
McLaren’s official account shared this clip on their X account, calling it a ‘thorough analysis from [a] former F1 test driver and expert pundit’. But many fans felt this was an ill-considered move.
@FanaticsFerrari and @verstapiastri both called it an ’embarrassing’ look for the team, while @F1mech described it as ‘tragic’. @TEAMLHtears told them their ‘desperation is incredible’.
@WilcoFtbl said they had ‘lost a bunch of respect’ for the Woking outfit as a result. And @pschadi added that they had ‘shown a real loser’s mentality’.
Motorsport broadcasting expert Dave Nelson said: “This must have happened before, but this is the first time I recall an F1 team sharing analysis from an F1 channel of an incident involving one of their drivers…”
Verstappen crash damage could have ‘repercussions’ for Norris at Silverstone
McLaren aren’t the only ones with concerns over Verstappen’s on-track conduct. ‘Many drivers’ apparently felt he broke the rules at times during his 2021 duels with Hamilton.
The 26-year-old has been so far clear of the pack in the two and a half seasons since that he’s rarely had to race wheel-to-wheel. But now McLaren have a car that is almost a match for Red Bull, and he’s dialled up the aggression.
The expectation is that the two drivers will battle it out for victory once again at Norris’ home race at Silverstone this weekend. Damon Hill has backed one of the two McLaren drivers to take victory.
But Norris’ hopes may already have been compromised. BBC Sport’s Andrew Benson says he may have limited parts available for the event, which comes at the end of a tripleheader, following the damage he sustained in Spielberg.
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