Lando Norris has responded to his crash with Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix, laying blame on the championship leader.
McLaren’s Lando Norris has blamed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen for causing their crash in what turned into a tragic battle between the championship contenders at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman had dominated the better part of the race and appeared to be on his way to yet another victory of the 2024 F1 season before he began to encounter gearbox issues and tyre deterioration, coupled with a slow pit stop, which saw the world champion lose his edge over the McLaren.
Norris closed in on his title rival and launched three attacks on the 26-year-old for the race lead at Turn 3. However, the McLaren charger’s attempt to secure the racing line into Turn 3 so as to use DRS on the exit before making a move at Turn 4 turned into a catastrophe.
As they were approaching the 50-meter marker on lap 64, the Brit braked very late which forced the Red Bull to push across in a bid to hold onto the racing line, and their tyres made contact, resulting in punctures for both drivers and a race win for George Russell.
Norris accused his rival of repeatedly changing his line in the braking zones as they fought over the lead.
“Disappointed. Nothing than that honestly,” Norris said to Sky Sports F1 after the Austrian Grand Prix. “I looked forward to a strong battle, a strong, fair battle and I wouldn’t say that’s what it was in the end so it’s a tough one to take.
“As a rule, you aren’t allowed to move after, you’re not allowed to react to the driver. He did it three times out of three and two times I managed to avoid it and not run into him and the third time he just run into me.
“He ruined his own race just as much as he ruined mine but there’s nothing more I can do. I did my best and was a was good enough, but it got ruined through not my own fault.”
In the two preceding tries, Max Verstappen, to be fair, moved slowly in an attempt to hold off the rapidly approaching McLaren.
It’s a move which has previously landed him a lot of criticism, most notably after his collision with Daniel Ricciardo in 2018. Norris didn’t waste any time in reminding his rival of the safety rules that are in place to protect both drivers.
“I can only do so much,” he added. “There’s rules, and if the rules aren’t followed then there’s nothing I can do about that.
“I just have to do my job which is go out and drive faster.”
Although Norris is disappointed about losing his second career victory for an incident he believed it wasn’t his fault, he is looking forward to rebound from the setback at the British Grand Prix.
With McLaren’s impressive pace and now evidently closer to Red Bull, there is lots of optimism that they could challenge the reigning constructors champions for pole position and the victory at Silverstone.
“I’ll do what I was doing today which was easily good enough for the win,” Norris added.
“From my side I’ll just carry on doing what I’m doing. I’m doing a good job.I’m happy with my efforts and my improvements from yesterday to today.
“Move onto Silverstone, I can’t do anything more than what I’ve done. So, I’m happy. I’m happy with the team and everything we’re doing but I got let down today.”
