A disappointed and embittered Lando Norris after the GP Austria. If in the first part of the race Verstappen seemed impregnable, after the last slow pit stop by Red Bull, the two drivers emerged just over a second apart. Norris proved to be faster in the final stint on the medium tires and managed to get in front of Verstappen in two laps. The two gave rise to an exciting, but clumsy and very dirty duel, then leading to a contact that forced Norris to retire and Verstappen to fifth place.
Austrian GP ended in the worst possible way for Lando Norris
Lando Norris and the McLaren they are experiencing an excellent period of form. The fact is, however, that despite having a better performing car at the moment, the driver and team are unable to grab the victory. Surely the epilogue experienced in the final stages of the Austrian GP will not help to lighten the spirits. Norris, who in any case somehow tried to maintain a certain composure at the microphones, described his sensations post-race like this: “I would say disappointed, I don't know what to add. I had a good race, I expected a strong but fair battle. It didn't go that way in the end, it's really hard to accept. It was a race without mistakes on my part, I think I did a good job, but we have to look to the home Grand Prix."
Norris on the finale of the Austrian GP: "I'd say it wasn't my fault"
Norris attempted to attack Max Verstappen several times in turn three, taking advantage of the DRS and the top speed of his McLaren. The number 4 then complained about the various movements the Dutchman made when braking to defend himself, a behavior which then led to contact between the two. Norris, given what was happening from his point of view, expected measures from the race direction. “Yes there is a rule: you must not react to the move the rider behind makes. Max did it two out of three times and, twice, I managed to avoid it. At a certain point I attacked him, he closed me down and ruined my race. I don't think I ruined his race as much as he ruined it for me. I did my best but it wasn't enough. I would say it wasn't my fault."
An accident that could also compromise the personal relationship that has existed between the two pilots for some time. But in F1 we know that it is always complicated to maintain good relationships with your rivals, especially after episodes like these. A difficulty also demonstrated by the last words of Lando Norris: “It depends on what he says: if he says he didn't do anything wrong then he will lose a lot of my respect. If instead he admits that he was stupid and was unfair then I will continue to have respect for him. I tried to be correct on my part but he wasn't."
