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Max Verstappen has revealed what was said in his discussion with Lando Norris after the Austrian Grand Prix.
After claiming his maiden Formula 1 victory at May’s Miami Grand Prix, Norris came perilously close to securing his second at the Red Bull Ring last weekend. The British driver attempted to overtake Verstappen at turn three on several occasions but struggled to make a move stick.
Following a few close calls, the pair eventually clashed on lap 64 whilst fighting for the race lead in Spielberg. The collision left both drivers with punctures and handed George Russell his second ever grand prix victory. The Mercedes driver finished 28 seconds ahead of fifth place Verstappen, whilst Norris was forced to retire because of his sustained damage.
LAP 64/71
Amazing scenes!
Norris and Verstappen make contact at Turn 3 ?
Both drivers have punctures after clashing… and George Russell has taken the lead!!! #F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/0GtTwPXd6N
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 30, 2024
Tempers flaring
After the chequered flag, Norris in particular displayed his anger at the collision.
When asked whether the two drivers needed to have a chat to cool the situation down, the British driver put the blame solely at the feet of Verstappen:
“Its not for me to say, its for him to say something”, Norris told F1 media after the race.
“I did nothing wrong, he’s the one in the wrong so its him that should be saying something not me.”
"I did nothing wrong" – Lando Norris#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/htYFBHkZOb
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 30, 2024
Putting differences aside
However, the Dutch driver has revealed the pair had a chat the following day, where the situation cooled off:
“We agree with 99% of everything, so I think that’s a lot already”, the Dutchman told F1 media at Silverstone on Thursday.
“Naturally, I always said to Lando, when you go for moves up the inside, outside, you can trust me that I’m not there to try and crash you out of the way, same the other way around, because we spoke about that as well.”
Verstappen then went on to address whether he felt he had any part to play in the collision:
“There’s always a human reaction when someone dives up the inside or outside that you have a bit of a reaction to it, but I felt everything that I did was nothing massively over the top.
“Like how you design a car, you try to go to the edge of the rules, maybe you find some grey areas here and there as a car, and that’s the same how you race, otherwise you will never be a top driver and you will never succeed in life anyway.”
At last year’s British Grand Prix, Norris gave Verstappen a rare battle for the lead in the opening laps of the race.
When previewing this year’s edition at Silverstone, the Dutchman said he expects more of the same:
“I still expect it to be very close. Last year here [McLaren] were flying, so they will be quick again.”
Featured Image Credit: (Photo by Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)