One of many burning questions following the Austrian Grand Prix was whether or not Max Verstappen and/or Lando Norris would change their racing model following a dramatic late-race collision that ended each drivers’ probabilities of securing a victory.
In response to Crimson Bull Group Principal Christian Horner, Verstappen is not going to be altering a factor.
Talking with Sky Sports activities forward of the British Grand Prix the Crimson Bull boss backed his driver’s strategy whereas noting that future incidents between Norris and Verstappen needs to be anticipated given how each drivers are performing in the mean time.
“Definitely, from Max’s facet, he’s not going to alter,” stated Horner.
“There’s a component, I feel, of Lando studying tips on how to race Max they usually’re discovering that. Inevitably, there may be going to be extra shut racing between the 2 of them because the vehicles look so shut over the forthcoming races.
“Max is a tough racer – he’s in all probability one of many hardest racers on the circuit and everyone is aware of that when you’re going to race towards Max, he’s going to present pretty much as good as he will get.”
Horner additionally addressed feedback made by McLaren Group Principal Andrea Stella instantly after the race. Talking with Sky Sports activities F1 analyst Ted Kravitz, Stella outlined how the reluctance of race stewards to intervene up to now — resembling in the course of the 2021 season when Verstappen was battling with Lewis Hamilton — led to moments just like the incident in Austria.
As you would possibly count on, Horner had a special view.
“He raced extremely onerous in 2021, he’s a troublesome racer, and he hasn’t actually been racing anybody for 2 years as a result of he’s been out entrance a lot,” Horner stated.
“The battle between the 2 of them has been constructing over two, three, 4 races the place they’ve been racing one another carefully and onerous, and sooner or later that was at all times going to spill over – and it did at Flip 3,” started Horner. “He was punished in 2021 if he did one thing fallacious simply as Lewis, who he was racing so onerous that 12 months, was for issues he did fallacious.
“I feel it’s fallacious and unfair to label a driver like that and I’m certain within the warmth of the second it was irritating for Andrea, however that’s simply powerful racing. He labored with Michael Schumacher [at Ferrari] for therefore a few years – he of all folks ought to know that.”
Throughout his dialogue with Sky Sports activities, Horner additionally addressed one other burning query following the Austrian Grand Prix: Have Norris and Verstappen mentioned the incident?
In response to the Crimson Bull boss, that chat has already occurred.
“I perceive they’ve spoken already, I don’t assume there may be any challenge,” added Horner.
How the 2 drivers deal with related battles going ahead will likely be a significant storyline all through the remainder of the 2024 marketing campaign. However one factor is evident:
The FIA Press Convention schedules for this weekend’s British Grand Prix — which have but to be introduced — could possibly be fascinating.
