Following Lando Norris, Max Verstappen too has put a firm end to the aftermath of their clash during the final stages of the Austrian Grand Prix last Sunday. “The most important thing for me is that my friendship with Lando doesn’t get ruined,” the three-time world champion shared during a crowded media session at the Silverstone circuit on Thursday afternoon.
The only topic of discussion during the press moment in Red Bull’s hospitality room was the crash with Norris in Austria, which has been widely (and somewhat one-sidedly) reported in England for days. “Lando and I spoke immediately on Monday, after the initial emotions from the race had subsided,” Max Verstappen revealed.
“I think we both came to the same conclusion, namely that we really enjoyed our race. We touched each other slightly, but our contact had significant consequences. For Lando a bit more than for me, but essentially we both want to race hard. This is something we’ve been doing for years. Not just in Formula 1, but also online. And we need to keep doing it. We get a lot of pleasure from it.”
‘We agree on 99.9 percent’
Verstappen was penalized for the incident by the stewards with a ten-second time penalty and two penalty points on his license. In addition, the three-time world champion from Red Bull has been the target of criticism since Sunday’s incident. “What everyone has said, I don’t care. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I only look at my relationship with Lando. We discussed the incidents of the race with each other and I think we agreed on 99.9 percent.”
Trust in Racing: Pushing the Boundaries
“I’ve also said: You can trust me that it’s not my intention to push you off the track. And vice versa. Of course, there’s always a human reaction when someone behind you moves inside or outside, you react to that. But what I did, was not over the top. As a driver, you always try to push the boundaries. As a team, you do the same in terms of the rules and maybe you end up in a grey area every now and then. But pushing the limit is necessary at times, otherwise, you’ll never be a top driver. And you won’t be successful in life either.”
Friendship Amidst Rivalry
According to Verstappen, his friendship with Lando Norris can continue despite the growing rivalry on the track between the two. In other words, friendship is not an illusion. “I don’t want our friendship to be lost. It’s not worth it. I certainly think friendship in Formula 1 can exist. That also depends a bit on your personality. And I know Lando. I know he’s a good guy. I also understood his emotions after the incident on Sunday. He lost the race because of it. So did I, but he was fighting for his second win in Formula 1, I for my sixtieth. I think we felt different emotions.”
Their way of racing will remain unchanged, Verstappen assured. “We’re going flat out, full throttle! That’s how we want to race and that’s what’s good for Formula 1. I enjoy close racing. Just like I enjoy when we as a team have a carefree weekend. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Too Many Rules Already
Verstappen was also asked whether the rules around ‘moving under braking’ need to be further clarified. On that: “I think we already have too many rules. More rules only make it even more difficult. If you compare the rule book with a few years ago, it has only become thicker and thicker.”
