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Norris Slams Verstappen’s ‘Desperate’ Racing Tactics

30/06/2024

Norris accuses Verstappen of desperate, forbidden tactics during their latest high-stakes race.

Lando Norris expressed significant frustration towards Max Verstappen and his racing style following a collision that resulted in Norris’s withdrawal from the race in Austria as he was overtaking for the lead.

The McLaren F1 driver repeatedly criticised the Red Bull driver’s manoeuvres, accusing him of changing his racing line during braking. On their third encounter, Verstappen collided with Norris. Although the Dutch driver received a 10-second penalty, it offered little consolation to Norris, who was left dismayed.

“There are rules about what you can and cannot do,” Norris stated.

“He was engaging in actions that are simply not permissible and yet went unpunished. I anticipate a tough battle with Max. I know what to expect. I foresee aggression and him pushing boundaries.”

“Three times he acted in ways that could easily cause an incident. In a sense, he seemed somewhat reckless—appearing quite desperate. He’s always like that when being overtaken…”

“It’s unnecessary; he has many victories. But he seems desperate to do whatever it takes to block me, and I know he’ll be aggressive.”

“In a way, I’m not surprised, but I was just expecting a hard race that was fair and respectful, at the limit, and I don’t feel that’s what I’ve got him into.”

Should one approach Verstappen differently in a race?

“I don’t think I need to change anything I’m doing,” Norris replied.

“I mean, I was at the very edge of the track; I didn’t know what else I could do.”

“He’s always been a bit like this. I have a lot of respect for Max and what he can do and what he does every time he’s on the track, but there are times when I think he might be going a bit too far.”

“And today feels like one of those times. It’s an incident, and at the same time, I know these things happen. But I’m disappointed. He ruined my race, destroyed my car. These are the best parts of the car right now that need to be thrown away.”

“We don’t have much leeway in the battle we’re engaged in, in terms of upgrades, budget cap, and things like that.”

“My entire car is wrecked, and these are all the parts we need for next week.”

“It’s not just a repercussion of what happens on the track; it’s everything we have to do for Silverstone, which puts us at a disadvantage. I was just expecting a bit more respect from Max.”

It’s well-known that Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are good friends off the track. As to whether this will cause issues between them, he remarked, “I don’t know, it depends on what he says, if he says he did nothing wrong, then I will lose a lot of respect for that.”

“If he admits he was a bit foolish and hit me and was a bit reckless in some way, then I will only lose a little respect for him. It’s a tough decision to make when you’re fighting for victory; I was trying to be fair on my side, and he simply wasn’t.”

“Twice I managed to avoid him, and three times he hit me. I’m just trying to enjoy my race; he was clearly slower at the end and ruined his own race as much as he ruined mine. I can’t do more; I did my best, and it wasn’t enough but it’s not my fault. It’s up to him to admit it, and then we’ll be okay, I think.”

Verstappen's Reckless Moves Spark Norris's Fury

Verstappen’s Reckless Moves Spark Norris’s Fury. Verstappen’s Reckless Moves Spark Norris’s Fury

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