Taunts between McLaren and Red Bull

Even in the home country of challenger Lando Norris, Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will not give in after the row in Spielberg.

July 04, 2024

From: apa

Verstappen's Red Bull team boss Christian Horner made this clear before the British Grand Prix. "Whatever Max goes into, he certainly won't change," he told British broadcaster Sky Sports. "Max is a tough racing driver - probably one of the toughest on the track. And everyone knows that he gives it his all when someone races against him."

The Dutchman and his challenger recently clashed in Spielberg. Verstappen received a time penalty for a maneuver that forced Norris to retire early in his McLaren, but still managed to finish in fifth place. In the standings, the 26-year-old Dutchman further extended his lead over the 24-year-old Briton. Before Norris' home race this weekend in Silverstone, he has 81 points.

Red Bull taunts

There will inevitably be further close duels between the two, predicted Horner, given that the cars are so close in terms of performance. The friendship between the two racing drivers also seems to be at stake. "If he says he hasn't done anything wrong, then I'll lose respect for him," Norris stressed in Spielberg.

Verstappen and Norris recently crashed in Spielberg. © APA/afp / JOE KLAMAR

"It was pathetic how Norris acted on the radio," said Helmut Marko, a Red Bull motorsport advisor close to Verstappen, in an interview with the portal oe24.at. "But things like that happen, and I would write it off as a racing accident, although Norris was more likely to have overstepped the mark." Comments from Norris that Verstappen should apologize were not very helpful.