Lando Norris was forced to retire from the Austrian Grand Prix in the final stages of the 71-lap race.
The McLaren Team Principal expressed his anger about the collision between Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, which occurred towards the end of the Austrian Grand Prix. Stella criticized Verstappen for being responsible and causing Norris’ premature retirement.
Verstappen and Norris have been fierce rivals throughout the season, engaging in intense and fast-paced races on several occasions. However, the race in Spielberg proved challenging for both drivers as they collided while battling for the lead.
Starting from pole position, Verstappen led for most of the 71 laps at the Red Bull Ring. However, he faced a tough challenge from second-placed Norris. The two drivers fiercely competed against each other, but on lap 65, an incident occurred that resulted in damage to both cars. Verstappen apparently blocked Norris from overtaking on the outside, leading to the collision.
Andrea Stella expressed his opinion on the incident, stating: “Everyone in the world can see who is wrong, except for a group of people.” #AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/SGX6BwNlls
Andrea Stella blamed Max Verstappen for intentionally blocking Norris and forcing him off the track. Stella emphasized that anyone in the world, except for Red Bull, would agree that Verstappen was at fault, causing damage to the McLaren’s front wing and tires.
Stella did not hold back in criticizing Verstappen’s accident. He stated that Verstappen has a history of making these mistakes and getting involved in accidents, but has never faced the proper consequences throughout his Formula 1 career.
Andrea Stella expressed her opposition to Verstappen’s reckless maneuver in the Austrian Grand Prix, citing previous incidents between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in 2020 and 2021. Despite multiple collisions and incidents, Verstappen has never been severely penalized for his actions, even though they are considered offenses in most cases.
The collision between Verstappen and Norris resulted in the latter finishing the race without scoring any points, which is a setback for the team during a crucial period in the title race. However, McLaren will regroup and seek to improve their performance in Silverstone, aiming to retaliate against Red Bull.
