Thursday at the British Grand Prix was always going to be dominated by one main storyline. Although it involved two drivers, the entire grid was inevitably pulled into the debate. The battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in Austria had sparked strong comments from McLaren, which were met with a strong response from Red Bull. Verstappen had initially stayed out of the controversy, but with just three days between races and the opportunity to learn more about the situation at Silverstone, there was a lot of anticipation on media day.
Fortunately, the two main figures in the controversy quickly diffused any animosity between them. Verstappen made it clear that his only concern was his relationship with Norris. Similarly, Norris toned down his views but did mention that there are certain gray areas in the racing rules that need to be addressed. However, not everyone in the Formula 1 grid shared this perspective.
Alex Albon believed that the aggressive racing between Verstappen and Norris was blown out of proportion. He felt that the first move made by Verstappen under braking was questionable, but the subsequent contact was a result of pure, hard racing. Albon acknowledged that the intense competition between the two drivers could impact their relationship, especially as McLaren becomes more competitive. He also suggested that similar incidents could occur in the future when drivers find themselves in the same positions.
Daniel Ricciardo, who had his own collision with Verstappen in the past, agreed with Albon’s sentiments. He didn’t believe that the incidents in Austria deserved significant attention. Ricciardo acknowledged that the battle for the lead would naturally be intense and that drivers would fight harder for a victory than for a lower position. He didn’t see anything dangerous or reckless in the incidents and felt that the outcome was magnified compared to what actually happened on the track.
Kevin Magnussen, drawing from his experience in IndyCar and IMSA, expressed frustration with the back-and-forth nature of racing rules in Formula 1. He believed that a more liberal approach should be adopted, allowing drivers to self-police and understand the consequences of contact. Magnussen emphasized the importance of finishing races and taking care of the cars, which would prevent drivers from taking unnecessary risks.
Carlos Sainz highlighted the difficulty for drivers to remember all the rules and regulations in the heat of battle. He believed that the existing rules were already detailed and specific, making it challenging to adhere to them while driving at high speeds. Sainz didn’t think that further rules were necessary and mentioned that the stewards had already made a decision regarding the incidents.
Charles Leclerc, who had his own clashes with Verstappen in the past, stated that he fights against all his rivals in the same manner. He acknowledged that drivers become familiar with each other’s styles over time but emphasized that his approach remains consistent regardless of the opponent. Leclerc mentioned that the situation and the stakes might influence the intensity of the fight, but when a win is at stake, he always gives his all.
Verstappen and Norris have agreed to continue fighting each other just as fiercely if faced with a similar scenario in the future. While the British Grand Prix weekend didn’t start with fireworks off-track, there is the potential for some on-track excitement come Sunday.
Photo credits – Charles Leclerc Instagram
