Verstappen and Norris Clear the Air over Austrian GP Clash – Formula 1 News
Verstappen and Norris Resolve Controversy
Formula 1 star Max Verstappen has revealed that he and Lando Norris have put their controversial clash at the Austrian Grand Prix behind them, with the pair agreeing on “99%” of what transpired.
The intense battle at the Red Bull Ring saw Verstappen and Norris engage in a heated duel, culminating in a collision at Turn 3 with just seven laps remaining. The incident led to both drivers suffering punctures, dashing their win hopes.
“For me, the only thing that I cared about is maintaining my relationship with Lando, because we are great friends,” the Dutchman said.
Norris initially condemned Verstappen’s aggressive racing approach, but has since retracted those comments at the British Grand Prix, acknowledging he was wrong to demand an apology.
Verstappen emphasized that his primary concern was preserving his long-standing friendship with Norris. The two drivers, who have a strong bond from their online racing days, agreed that the incident was an unfortunate consequence of their intense battle.
“We like to race hard. We’ve done this for many years, not only in Formula 1, even in online racing where we’ve had a lot of fun together,” Verstappen explained.
In the aftermath of the Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen sought to discuss the incident with Norris once emotions had cooled. Their conversation yielded almost complete agreement on what transpired, with Verstappen disclosing that they “agreed with 99% of everything.”
When asked whether their relationship would influence their approach in future on-track duels, Verstappen responded, “We go at it flat out! That’s what we agreed to. Because that’s what we like to do, and that’s what’s good for Formula 1 as well.”
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