Verstappen on heated race with Norris: 'We'll Talk About It'

Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, has expressed his intention to engage in discussions with Lando Norris following their collision during the closing stages of the Austrian Grand Prix.

The incident, which occurred as both drivers were vying for the lead, resulted in punctured tires and dashed hopes of victory for both competitors.

Race incident analysis

The collision between Verstappen and Norris took place in the final laps of the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.

Both drivers were in contention for the win when they made contact, leading to punctured tires that effectively ended their chances of victory.

This incident has become a focal point of discussion in the Formula 1 community, given its significant impact on the race outcome and championship standings.

Post-race comments

In the aftermath of the race, Verstappen addressed the media, including PlanetF1.com, emphasizing the need for a conversation with Norris.

"We'll talk about it,"

Verstappen stated, adding,

"Not now, I think it's not the right time. But y'know, we're racing drivers."

The Dutch driver's comments suggest a desire to address the incident professionally and maintain a cordial relationship with his rival.

Friendship and competition

Verstappen and Norris, despite a slight age gap, have maintained a friendly rapport in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.

Verstappen commented on their relationship, saying,

"Of course, Lando and I have a little age gap — that's why we never really raced against each other in lower categories compared to some other drivers here, but yeah. We'll move on from it."

When questioned about the potential difficulty in moving past the incident, Verstappen responded,

"It shouldn't be. I mean, we're all racing drivers. Of course you don't want to crash into each other but when you are fighting for the lead, it's always tough battles."

Team perspective

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner described the collision as "inevitable" given the intensifying competition between Red Bull and McLaren.

However, Verstappen disagreed with this assessment, stating,

"You shouldn't think like that. That's also never how I thought about stuff. I'd say [in] close battles, sometimes these things happen, which you never want to happen."

Looking ahead

As the British Grand Prix approaches, the conversation between Verstappen and Norris will be crucial in clearing the air and maintaining focus on the championship battle.

Both drivers have expressed a desire to move forward, recognizing the incident as an unfortunate consequence of hard racing at the highest level of motorsport.