Controversial incident at Austrian Grand Prix – Norris expects Verstappen's apology

During the heated Austrian Grand Prix, tensions between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen reached a critical point when the two drivers collided, causing Norris to retire from the race due to damage, SSP reported.  As a result, Norris has expressed his disappointment and highlighted that an apology from Verstappen would be necessary to maintain their friendship.

Speaking in a post-race interview with Sky Sports, Norris emphasized that his level of respect for Verstappen would significantly diminish if the Red Bull driver failed to acknowledge his mistake. "It depends what he says. If he says he did nothing wrong, then I lose a lot of respect for that," Norris stated. However, Norris did indicate that if Verstappen admitted to being reckless and accepted responsibility for the incident, he would have some level of respect for him.

Norris and Verstappen have a close friendship off the track, but this incident has strained their relationship further, especially considering their ongoing rivalry for the drivers' championship title. The frustration was evident in Norris' words as he felt that the collision could have cost him a crucial victory in his pursuit of the championship.

Despite being penalized and having to make a pit stop for repairs, Verstappen managed to finish fifth, extending his lead over Norris by 81 points in the standings. However, Norris emphasized that his primary concern was the impact on his team and their performance. "It’s still a tough one to take when we’re fighting for the win, and I’m trying to be fair from my side and he just wasn’t. That’s not what I’m thinking about. I don’t care about that now. I’m just gutted for the team," said Norris.

When questioned about Norris' comments, Verstappen maintained that he would need to review the race footage to fully understand what happened. "Everyone can have their own opinion. From the outside, it’s easy to judge and comment," he responded.

Red Bull's team principal, Christian Horner, stood by Verstappen, regarding the collision as one of those incidents that occur in racing. Meanwhile, Andrea Stella, team principal at McLaren, firmly attributed the responsibility to Verstappen, stating that it was evident to the entire world.

The ongoing rivalry between Norris and Verstappen will undoubtedly intensify during the upcoming British Grand Prix on July 7, where Verstappen aims to solidify his position in the fight for his fourth world title.