F1 News: Lando Norris takes a STRONG stance on Max Verstappen incident after Austrian GP collision

McLaren’s Lando Norris has shared his thoughts on a late collision with Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix.

As has happened several times this season, the title contenders engaged in a heated battle just a few laps before the end.

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For most of the race, Verstappen seemed to be in a dominant position, and Norris was so far behind him that at no point was he in danger of an undercut.

However, when both pitted to change to medium tyres with 20 laps to go, Norris was only a few seconds behind the Dutchman due to an unusually slow pit stop by Red Bull.

To make matters worse for Verstappen, the McLaren with Norris at the wheel on the medium tyres seemed to have the upper hand in terms of pace and the two eventually engaged in a bitter battle for the lead.

Ultimately, however, it ended in disaster for both drivers, as a collision occurred in which both drivers sustained damage. Norris was forced to retire as a result of the collision, while Verstappen had to pit with a puncture and later received a double penalty from the FIA ​​for his part in the incident.

Lando Norris announces his verdict on Max Verstappen

Speaking to the media after the race, Norris appeared dejected but was very honest when it came to assessing what happened on the track.

The British star told the media that he did not think the fight between the two was fair before he was eventually knocked out.

“I don’t know what to say. Frankly, I’m disappointed and that’s all,” Norris said in the press room.

“It was a good race, I was looking forward to a fair fight, a strong, fair fight. But I wouldn’t say that was how it turned out in the end.”

“It’s hard to take. I drove a flawless race and felt like I did a good job. But I was taken out of the race. That’s all.”

Before the collision, Norris had complained several times over the radio that Verstappen was skidding when braking, and after the race he was even more insistent.

“I mean, there is a rule, you can’t react to the driver and that’s what he did three out of three times,” the British star continued.

“Twice I managed to swerve and not collide with him, not block and collide with him, and the third time he collided with me.”

Norris and Verstappen are known to be good friends off the track, but Norris stressed that he would lose respect for the Dutchman if he refused to take responsibility for his part in the collision.

“I don’t know, it depends on what he says,” Norris said when asked about their friendship.

“If he says he did nothing wrong, then I lose a lot of respect for that.

“If he admits that he was a little stupid, that he drove into me and that he was just a little reckless in some ways, then I lose less respect for that.”

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