The McLaren sensation disclosed that the two drivers have resolved their differences following their controversial clash at the Austrian GP in 2024.
Lando Norris has acknowledged that he regrets his outburst towards Max Verstappen after the two drivers settled their differences following their sensational collision at the Formula 1 2024 Austrian Grand Prix.
The McLaren prodigy was forced to retire on Lap 64 when he and Verstappen collided while attempting an overtaking maneuver on the outer side of Turn 3 during the previous race at the Red Bull Ring. Verstappen was penalized with a 10-second penalty by the stewards for causing the collision, resulting in both drivers suffering punctures.
However, the Red Bull sensation managed to limp back to the pits and change to a fresh set of tires, ultimately finishing fifth, while Norris sustained significant damage to his car, preventing him from continuing the race. Meanwhile, Mercedes driver George Russell went on to secure an improbable victory in the final laps.
After the race, a frustrated Norris criticized Verstappen’s driving style in the midst of their intense battle for the lead, describing his maneuvers as “reckless” and alleging that he made sudden movements while braking, which violates the FIA regulations.
But ahead of the British GP, Norris attempted to diffuse the tension by retracting his initial comments about Verstappen.
“I believe some of the things I expressed in the [media] pen after the race were primarily due to my frustrations at the time,” Norris told the written press at Silverstone. “There was a lot of adrenaline and emotions, and I may have said some things that I didn’t truly believe in, especially later in the week.”
The collision seemed almost inevitable after Norris had made several attempts to overtake the championship leader, with only one successful move before Verstappen swiftly reclaimed his position using DRS.
Norris explained that his main source of frustration stemmed from the aftermath of the incident, which cost him 18 valuable points in the drivers’ standings.
“It was a rather unfortunate incident that ended both of our races. It wasn’t a forceful impact, nor was it an obvious contact,” Norris stated. “In fact, it was one of the smallest instances of contact possible, but with severe consequences for both of us, especially for myself.”
Norris later revealed that the duo, who are close friends outside of Formula 1, spoke to each other on Monday and Wednesday to ensure they were on the same page. However, the 24-year-old emphasized that Verstappen did not apologize for the maneuver that prematurely ended his race and asserted that he did not expect an apology.
“[Verstappen] doesn’t need to [apologize]. I don’t anticipate an apology from him, nor do I believe he should apologize,” Norris added.
“I viewed it as good racing upon reflection. It was a tense move that pushed the boundaries. But as we mentioned, we’ve discussed it. We’ve talked about it, and we’re both content to resume racing.”
