Formula 1 News: McLaren Unfazed by Lando Norris’ Backtrack on Verstappen Clash
In the aftermath of the dramatic Austrian Grand Prix, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has dismissed concerns that Lando Norris’ retraction of his comments regarding his collision with Max Verstappen could give his Formula 1 rival an psychological advantage. The incident, which saw both drivers suffer punctures after a clash at Turn 3, sparked a heated debate, with Norris initially branding Verstappen’s actions as “reckless.” However, the British driver has since backpedaled, questioning whether Verstappen should have been penalized.
Some have speculated that Norris’ sudden U-turn could be perceived as a weakness, potentially exploitable by Verstappen in future racing scenarios. However, Brown has rejected this notion, instead praising Norris’ efforts to shift focus away from the controversy and back to the track.
“No, I don’t think so at all,” Brown said, when asked if Norris had ceded ground to Verstappen. “Show me a World Champion and I think ruthless and aggressive will be two good descriptions of any world champion or grand prix winning driver. I think Lando wants to move on from last weekend. Some drivers might enjoy a public spat. I think they have a very strong relationship off the track.”
Brown revealed that Norris and Verstappen had spoken privately about the incident, with both drivers eager to put the controversy behind them and focus on the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
“From what I saw from Lando and Max’s comments, they both want to move on and get back to racing each other real hard on track,” Brown said.
Norris, according to Brown, is “laser-focused” on this weekend’s race, where McLaren is expected to be competitive. The American praised Norris’ handling of the situation, saying that McLaren’s conversations with the driver had centered on turning the page and refocusing on the task at hand.
“Our conversation with Lando has been that we can’t change anything from last week,” Brown explained. “We can only try and make sure it doesn’t occur again and address having some full-time stewards and things of that nature. But we can’t unwind. I think we’re going to be very competitive this weekend and so we just want him to be laser-focused on that.”
As the Formula 1 calendar moves on to Silverstone, Brown emphasized that McLaren’s priority lies in ensuring its drivers are fully focused on the job at hand.
“Of course, everyone loves a good battle. It wasn’t long ago that Mercedes and Red Bull were having an epic battle. I know it’s exciting and entertaining for the fans, but at the end of the day, we want Lando and Oscar focusing on the job at hand, and that’s exactly what they are doing,” Brown said.
🔗 Source