Lando Norris discloses Max Verstappen texts as Brit confesses after Austrian Grand Prix | F1 | Sport
Lando Norris has revealed that he exchanged texts with Max Verstappen in the aftermath of their collision at the Austrian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver’s race was ruined when Verstappen crashed into him while they were battling for the lead, allowing George Russell to claim a surprise victory.
Verstappen moved under braking when Norris came up alongside him in the closing stages of the race, leading to both drivers suffering punctures. The Dutchman pitted for a new set of tyres and finished fifth despite taking a 10-second penalty, while Norris was forced to retire.
The Brit was left hugely frustrated over what he felt was a step too far from Verstappen and suggested he would lose respect for his rival if he failed to apologise. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, he revealed that discussions between the pair have already taken place.
“We’ve texted,” Norris told BBC Sport. “We’re going to have a chat, of course, because I think it’s the correct thing to do. But apart from that, what we talk about and how things go is between us.”
Norris went on to admit that he got caught up in the heat of the moment when discussing the incident after the race, insisting that he expects to remain friends with Verstappen in spite of what happened.
“Like we’ve said many times, because of the respect we still have, I’m not going to let something like that suddenly blow up everything,” he added.
“Definitely my adrenaline side probably got a little the better of me in a few of the comments. I don’t think everything I said was probably as correct as what it should be. But I was fighting for one of my first wins, it was my second win on the cards.
“For Max, it’s his 60th, so what it means to me is very different to what it means to him. Of course, I am going to be upset and maybe say some things that are not correct or as I would like them to come out, but we will be fine.”
Both drivers are likely to be fighting for victory at Silverstone this weekend, raising the possibility of another clash if things get heated again. Norris, however, has pledged to spend time analysing the way Verstappen races to come up with an effective strategy to beat him.
“It is something I need to prepare for, to look into previous races and things like that and understand those types of things,” he said.
“We need roles to be clear and defined in each and every area but you’ve got to be ready to give what he gives to you, it’s as simple as that. I am definitely one of the first people who knew that and completely understood that before I even attempted to race Max.
“You know you are going to going into one of the biggest fights you can possibly have and by no means is it going to be easy and I don’t want it to be easy. I love that.”
