Following the acrimonious collision between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix, the pair met on-track twice at Silverstone, though without the same fireworks.
The clear championship leader and his closest challenger fought so bitterly over the lead in Austria that the lack of drama in their Silverstone scraps came as a surprise. But each time they met on the Hangar straight one driver was clearly quicker than the other, and the power of DRS ensured each pass was a straightforward slam-dunk rather than a prolonged fight.But there is surely more to come. Red Bull and McLaren are so close in performance Verstappen and Norris have qualified in consecutive grid positions for each of the last four grands prix. Expect this battle to remain joined for the foreseeable future. This weekend’s race in Hungary, where passing is never easy, could provide another flashpoint.
Will Norris be better armed to take on his rival this time? One driver who is uniquely well-placed to pass judgement on them saw the events of Austria as a valuable learning experience for the McLaren driver.
In his view, Verstappen is the same hard-as-nails racer he was when he arrived in F1 eight years ago, albeit now armed with the benefits of experience and maturity.
“When I say he’s unchanged, I think the way he goes racing, obviously he leaves it all out on the track and that’s also what a lot of fans have admired about him,” said Ricciardo. “But do I think he’s matured since the start of his career? Absolutely.”
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In Austria, after sparring over the lead for several laps, Verstappen and Norris finally collided. Norris accused his rival of repeatedly changing his line in braking zones, leaving the track and gaining an advantage and then finally causing the contact between the pair.
In the aftermath, several drivers offered the view that F1’s racing rules have become so complex it can be difficult to judge how they are allowed to react in different situations. Ricciardo compared the situation to his collision with Alexander Albon at Suzuka.
“”We all know when you super-slow-mo everything down and this and that, you’ll always find ‘ah maybe I moved a bit there…’,” said Ricciardo.
“If I put myself in this situation, look at me in Japan: I look back and I gave too much room to the inside and therefore there wasn’t enough room on the outside for Albon and we crashed on lap one. If I slow-mo it all down then I’m like ‘shit, I should have left some more room, probably’.
“But when it happens so quickly and you’re in the battle and it’s intense and there’s adrenaline and there’s so much going on – yes, we are paid to do this and we should be able to, most of the time, do it at a very high level but it’s so hard to be inch-perfect when there’s all these other factors.
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“So naturally people will make mistakes, they will maybe push it a little more than they should and try to get away with it. But I think we all know that we’re doing our best and I think we have enough trust in everyone.”
“Max, in this situation, we know he’s a tougher racer, it’s not that we don’t trust going side-by-side with him, not at all. It’s just you know that extra inch maybe someone will give you, you probably just won’t get that. You might get the centimetre, not the inch.”
The day before the Austrian Grand Prix, Norris slipped up by allowing Verstappen to re-pass him for the lead in the sprint race. Ricciardo saw what came the following day as a consequence of that.
“No one in this sport wants to be the one that gets bullied,” he said. “You want to stand your ground against everyone.
“Obviously it’s your reputation as well: When people come up to you on-track, you don’t want them to think ‘oh, this guy’s going to be an easy one for me’. So you always want to have your elbows out to an extent.
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“We know Max from day one has always had his out. I think just naturally, his DNA, he just is a tough racer. It’s not something he has to really dig deep for, that’s just how he races. You know it’s kind of unconditional with him that you’re going to get a tough battle but it doesn’t necessarily change the way you do race him. You just know that you’re going to have to pull off a really good move and make sure you make it stick.
“I think Lando learned that on Saturday. I think he thought he probably had it done and Max said ‘no, not today’. So it’s like, you live and you learn. Obviously then Lando made some bold moves on Sunday and had his elbows out too and as I said, it’s unfortunate but I think the outcome was what it was.”
For Norris, with a single grand prix victory to his name compared to Verstappen’s 61, he is still learning how to take victories as well as how to take on the reigning world champion. While he maintained his view that some of Verstappen’s defending went beyond borderline, he validated Ricciardo’s view that Austria had been a learning experience for him.
“We’ve gone over things a few times,” said Norris. “I learned many things.
“I think a lot of stuff I was anticipating, I knew about, but it’s still different. You’re fighting against different people, you’re fighting in different ways at the top, compared to when you’re a bit further back, like we have done the last year or so.
“But at the same time, Max has a very different way of racing compared to a lot of others and that’s one of the reasons of why he’s a champion.”
The next meeting between these two drivers on track is going to be fascinating, and it may only be days away.
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Formula 1
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MacLeod (@macleod)
17th July 2024, 8:00
Is that your opinion Keith because Daniel never said this for the reason to leave?
Ross
17th July 2024, 8:31
Link fail.
https://www.racefans.net/2019/03/10/ricciardo-baku-sshow-was-red-bulls-fault/
FrankT
17th July 2024, 10:32
“That played a part in my decision,” sooo.. it was not solely to this, but the biased British media like to paint Verstappen as negatively as possible. Everybody outside the british atmosphere all are aware of that.
BLS (@brightlampshade)
17th July 2024, 19:33
Out of Keith, Ross and yourself the only one to bring up “solely” is yourself.
So… stop being biased, to yourself?
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
17th July 2024, 21:43
It was a pretty pivotal moment! Danny had worked hard to get past Max on track only to be undermined by the team’s strategy which put Max back in front. Max was pushing the limits and overstepping them in his defence which resulted in the inevitable collision. Danny would definitely have felt in that moment that he had insufficient support from the team enough to win a championship whilst Max is in the other garage.
Nick T.
18th July 2024, 6:52
Whatever you think of how the British media portray Max, this was the turning point for Daniel or the clincher. After two seasons in which he remained the team leader even if Max was clearly going to be the golden boy, Max had a clear edge in 2018 and Daniel felt the wind changing in the team. When Max caused an accident that he 100% at fault for and the team seemed to prioritize protecting Max/keeping him happy rather than handling it neutrally, Daniel decided he had no long term at RBR this would keep him happy. There was really no other reason for him to leave that made sense. People said it was just about $, but you don’t get to F1 if your goal is just to secure the biggest paycheck.
TL/DR: Max getting away with a reckless block was the major turning point in DR’s decision to leave.
MacLeod (@macleod)
18th July 2024, 8:23
I think he is talking about the strategy which didn’t was in Daniels favour. And was angry about that the team didn’t keep him in front. Which was silly as he didn’t drove away when he overtake Max.
From a interview with Max that Daniel wasn’t blamed for the crash but 50-50 and Max didn’t like the angry Christian quoting that was scarry! So if that was keeping him happy that failed as Max doesn’t want that ever.
That was no block but Max losing the sight of Daniel when Daniel went left right and Max had to slow down for the turn so he keeped his line when he was breaking as he thought Daniel was on his right.
Ross
17th July 2024, 8:30
I believe that is what Keith is referring to.
Mayrton
17th July 2024, 8:35
Again about this? Wow. Proper witch hunt.
Mayrton
17th July 2024, 9:18
Well, actually, not at all. There was hardly any difference between the two events. It is called racing. The only difference was just a few centimetres the one could have gone to the left or the other to the right (in Austria). The fact this difference is so extensively milked by the press clearly shows their agenda and disqualifies them as professionals. Tabloid stuff at best.
SM
17th July 2024, 14:58
There was a whole lot different between the two events. At silverstone neither really defended their position at all. That’s disregarding the collision in Austria
David BR (@david-br)
17th July 2024, 14:50
? Ricciardo’s view is interesting to hear. We’re here for the racing. Norris versus Verstappen at Austria was the most intense racing we’ve seen at the front all year, between two teams rivalling for fastest car this season, and their differences in racing style is a salient point – and unresolved in the sense that the end result in Austria was them crashing. So it’s fair to ask what happens in a similar situation next time (when both think they’re fighting immediately for a race win).
Nick T.
18th July 2024, 7:06
I agree it’s a bit of a dead horse, but I think they get a pass considering rather than being a quote from Johnny Herbert, JV or some other never was desperate to say relevant by saying provocative things, this is coming from the only driver Max was ever neck-and-neck with while in the same car and whose entire downfall seems to have been spurred by a clash w/Max and the team’s treatment of Max after said clash. It’s also relevant due to the interesting timing with DR obviously hoping to swoop in and replace Pastor Perez as Max’s teammate.
Either way, Max fans should just revel in the amount of attention (good and bad) and headspace he consumes. After all, like most voters, 98% of fans already have their minds made up way one way or another. They’re going to either love or hate him no matter how many quotes or articles defending or criticizing him are published.
David BR (@david-br)
17th July 2024, 14:44
Max Verstappen is in many aspects the complete racer. As Ricciardo says, he’s exactly the same in terms of hard racing, only now he’s added a layer of confidence and knowing when to relent or fight. What impresses me most is that decision making, it’s ruthlessly efficient. The scrap with Norris in Austria was for a win, so he did everything he could to win it. That included subtle weaving in the braking zone (on the very limit between a bit of ‘uncontrollable wobble’, enough to leave Norris unsure and back out: hence the latter’s complaint) and ultimately deciding that contact was preferable to being passed. And there it’s worth picking out what Ricciardo added: “obviously he leaves it all out on the track and that’s also what a lot of fans have admired about him”. Is it admirable? I’d say much of the time but not always. It also throws a lot the stewards and race director’s way and, to be honest, they have a habit of being too slow – or Max is to quick for them. There were so many elements to his defense against Norris that were on – and arguably beyond – the limit that they ended up penalizing just one. However you can’t deny the excitement Verstappen adds and his absolute control of a Formula 1 car and optimization of speed.
As for Norris, his point about drivers feeling ‘bullied’ resonates. What do you do when the other driver gives that ultimatum: cede to me or crash? He’s going to have to do the same. But that’s not easy when your style is not to exceed the limit of the technically permissible and is more likely to appear clumsy and be penalized. Leclerc can drive hard when need be and Russell is naturally aggressive. Norris, I’ve not yet seen it.
Doh
17th July 2024, 16:19
When the other driver gives that ultimatum, the foot must be put down. Maybe not all the time but at least enough. Max’s style (even though Lewis was away from the apex) is in part what led to the Silverstone crash. It’s also what led to the contact in Austria of course when at the point (it was subtle) Norris refused to back out and put his foot down. He could have swayed a little to the left, onto the kerb and contact would have been avoided, but he chose not to. But so far no one had really done this with max all the time especially in defence.. so we shall see what they choose. Of course leclerc hasn’t had many chances since early 2022. It’s a great point you make about it being Max’s style and so he is efficient with it, so if another driver wishes to meet him it can come across clumsy and more easily penalised. But with max it’s also about his cars pace and relativve championship position. If contact goes wrongly for him eg had Norris won Austria, I wouldn’t expect him to change, he didn’t after Silverstone in 2021 in fact he only upped his style to and beyond he limit. But likely because he felt wrong. Wether he felt it himself or other whispered to him that they thought Lewis did it intentionally, is unknown. But think of Schumacher it was also just his style even if he were to lose out. Remember Hungary 2006? I remember him battle so hard for a position losing time and in the end lost much more in a race he could have made up points to Alonso. It was just his style.
Interestingly Lewis may have won the title off the track in 2021 if he had taken Norris approach in Austria a few few weeks ago, or say piastris approach against Lewis in Monza. When Lewis was on the outside at his last chance to overtake on the final lap Lewis drifted wide onto the ‘kerb’ had he not done and held his line it’s very possible max would have run into him just like into Norris in Austria just at higher speed. When you budge you send a message essentially when you don’t you risk not finishing at all but likely also a penalty for your rival it’s a choice they must make. Eg Lewis also moved onto the kerb at monza when battling leclerc. Who I believe got a black and white flag. Had Lewis held his line contact would have been made and likely a penalty. The unknown of course the damage.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
17th July 2024, 16:31
Good point about schumacher and hungary 2006, he was always an aggressive defender and that time it cost him, but he said overall across his career it worked, or something along the lines, that is indeed something he and verstappen have in common.
So you assume they would’ve disqualified verstappen or something similar in 2021 if he had taken hamilton out to prevent him from re-overtaking him, I don’t know, that’s a tough decision for the fia, they didn’t have to assign the title off track in 1997 since villeneuve was able to continue the race and end up with more points.
Doh
17th July 2024, 18:13
Fair enough, I can see how overall it would have worked well over a career especially when it comes to defending position.
No no, not disqualify.
I meant a time penalty like how max received in Austria. If there had been just contact, similar to the contact between Norris and max in Austria a few weeks ago.
Not 1997 style, taking out the rival on purpose.
If you watch Lewis and Max’s onboard of the final lap going into turn 9, unlike norris in austria lewis ran onto the kerb on the entry to the corner. I think max may have made contact had Lewis chosen NOT to run on the kerb and instead stay within the tarmac.
It’s possible they have given a penalty in the scenario regardless of if the contact caused Lewis to sustain damage. Of course it could have also caused max damage.
The point being Lewis I think tends to run onto the kerb to avoid contact. Which also avoids his rival a penalty (ad21 final lap and Monza 2019 against leclerc)
Lando a few weeks ago chose not to which led to the contact. Max ended up with a penalty in part due to his rival (in a subtle way) putting his foot down and not budging.
It just so happened landonstill lost more due to also getting a puncture and due to the type of puncture.
81 point deficit, but had it gone just a bit differently he might’ve only had a 46 point deficit to max.
That’s the risk with contact, generally it’s a unknown risk, but it’s a risk max is often willing to take.
In Silverstone Three years ago he lost up to 33 points because of it. In Austria this year he actually gained 3.
Doh
17th July 2024, 18:49
i tried to have a quick look at the onboarda again and lewis actually reduced speed earlier than max did even though max was on the inside. essentially max forced lewis to back out by running him onto the kerb. and had lewis commited to keeping all 4 tyres on tarmac they were on a collision course and its hard to tell but seems it would have been lewis front wing to the rear of maxs front left tyre
David BR (@david-br)
17th July 2024, 17:38
The combination we’ve really not seen yet (I think) is Verstappen and Russell competing all out for a race win with one of them trying to pass. At least I can’t really ‘imagine’ how it turns out yet, while Leclerc, Hamilton and now Norris we have a good idea based on past incidents. Hope we get to see a few really competitive races with Max and George skirmishing, it would be fascinating.
I remember wondering myself about Hamilton allowing a crash in 2021, and seeing Max disqualified, but I concluded the odds weren’t favourable (and Hamilton would conclude they weren’t) – they’d be unlikely to decide the title with a penalty. And really I think the end of season was tipped in Verstappen’s favour. The F1 powers wanted an end to Mercedes/Hamilton domination, not knowing it would come anyway in 2022. I know that opinion will set some people off, but it’s the best explanation for the leniency shown to MV in the last races. That would have extended to any penalty decision. It also explains Hamilton’s outburst on the radioo in the aftermath of Masi making his title-handing intervention.
Doh
17th July 2024, 18:30
Yes indeed. Even though Canada this season had it’s bit I feel Spain 2022 was the closest we saw of that but of course verstappen had much more to lose there. Will be fascinating to see it but although verstappen is in the lead by a long shit and George is not even 2nd, I feel he might race him hard still
Leclerc is more fierce than Norris it seems but also had what could have been his first win taken by vertstappen punting him wide in Austria.
Montoya he did things because he could because he dared to not because he should or because it’s best and often it worked.
Yeah true, of course the way max got by on ge final lap I feel was a sort of symptom of Lewis always avoiding crashes. Another area where if Lewis hadn’t avoided that crash who knows what might’ve happened from that contact ( not that Carlos was allowed a fair chance to benefit from it).
Yeah it makes sense and if you know the way these things work sometimes it’s not confined to F1 let alone sports. If they wanted rid of it they would have been harsher after Monza especially considering max’s radio saying “that’s what you get” he couldn’t have been more clear really.
Then of course Brazil and Jeddah, so they sure allowed it. Add to that masi suddenly changing his mind the penultimate lap. And in the wake of it all him saying that he really didn’t like and struggled with how he was treated after, pretty much showing he woukd like to explain himself. As he actually very often did after races during his tenure, different to whiting.
Yet there was no explanation from someone it seems pretty clear wanted to clear his name, instead he signed an NDA. Very odd. Oh and then was fired…
Maybe one day…
Doh
17th July 2024, 18:55
Yes indeed. Even though Canada this season had it’s bit I feel Spain 2022 was the closest we saw of that but of course verstappen had much more to lose there. Will be fascinating to see it but although verstappen is in the lead by a long shot and George is not even 2nd, I feel he might race him hard still
Leclerc is more fierce than Norris it seems but also had what could have been his first win taken by vertstappen punting him wide in Austria.
Montoya he did things because he could because he dared to not because he should or because it’s best and often it worked.
Yeah true, of course the way max got by on the final lap I feel was a sort of symptom of Lewis always avoiding crashes. Another area where if Lewis hadn’t avoided that crash who knows what might’ve happened from that contact ( not that Carlos was allowed a fair chance to benefit from it).
Yeah it makes sense and if you know the way these things work sometimes it’s not confined to F1 let alone sports.
If they wanted rid of it they would have been harsher after Monza especially considering max’s radio saying “that’s what you get” he couldn’t have been more clear really. Then of course Brazil and Jeddah, so they sure allowed it.
Add to that masi suddenly changing his mind the penultimate lap. And in the wake of it all him saying that he really didn’t like and struggled with how he was treated after, pretty much showing he woukd like to explain himself. As he actually very often did after races during his tenure, different to whiting. Yet there was no explanation from someone who, it seems pretty clear, wanted to clear his name. Instead he signed an NDA. Very odd. Oh and then was fired…
Maybe one day…
Edvaldo
17th July 2024, 14:51
Only thing Norris probably learned from it is that is better to retreat and survive than to let it happen.
Max only used this tactics when he had nothing to lose. Or he was running for nothing, like in his early Red Bull years, or he was leading the WDC against a charging Hamilton.
I want to see him doing it when he’s the one needing the points finish. It’s yet to happen.
Robbie1
17th July 2024, 15:50
“ I want to see him doing it when he’s the one needing the points finish. It’s yet to happen”
You clearly haven’t watched the 2021 season.
Pretty sure he became WDC by doing exactly this.
And he didn’t even resort to sending Lewis to hospital with an extremely reckless move in one if the fastest corners on the calendar.
Edvaldo
17th July 2024, 16:25
He was in control and leading the standings for most of that season. Did this countless times.
What are you even talking about?
Robbie1
17th July 2024, 19:49
No he wasn’t.
He was fighting hardest (Imola, Spain, Saudi and AD when he was behind or only had a small advantage.
And still he didn’t resort to reckless driving in very fast corners.
Edvaldo
17th July 2024, 20:25
Being optimistic at the very start of a race is very different that racing hard later. Everyone can and do that every once in a while when they see the gap (Torpedo Kvyat comes to mind, Vettel crashed Raikkonen to avoid him).
And the small advantage talk, no comments. There was once a championship won by half a point. If you’re ahead at the end, who cares by how much?
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
17th July 2024, 16:37
Basically edvaldo is saying verstappen was never the one who had to recover points for the championship, so he could more easily afford moves such as forcing hamilton off track and going off track himself at interlagos, but I wonder if he would be as aggressive and risk crashes if he had to recover points, like hamilton had to do late 2021.
Robbie1
17th July 2024, 19:46
I know exactly what he is saying, but they don’t reflect reality.
Max was fighting tooth and nail regardless of who was leading, just watch Imola or Spain or Saudi and Abu Dhabi, races where he was either behind or only had a small advantage.
Edvaldo
17th July 2024, 19:59
a “small advantage” is an advantage. If both are out it’s his benefit, even if by just one point.
In fact, it’s exactly what happened at Monza. He was losing that position and caused a crash, both retired. One less race to worry about.
Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia were two races that a crash would benefit him as he had more points in Saudi Arabia and more wins in Abu Dhabi. You’re only reinforcing my point.
Drg
19th July 2024, 9:01
Surprised at you Robbi
There was no justification for much of Maxs driving in 2021 – and absolutely none for being gifted the Abu Dhabi race.
And to keep things factual- Max did indeed send Lewis to hospital by dumping a car on his head at Monza – but as you well know this does not follow the “hard done by and apparently now half blind” fan of Verstappen narrative – these hospital visits are mandatory check ups if the g sensor is activated and while we always always hear about the “51g”
We never hear a word from Hamilton about how maxs tyre impacted his head and set off the sensor…
Probably because it was 52g
baasbas
18th July 2024, 8:47
Check this:
https://youtube.com/shorts/7u45-uj0Wc8?feature=shared
In Spain Norris squeezed Verstappen. Verstappen yielded, no crash. Sheepish smiles after the race from Norris. In Austria Verstappen applied the same squeeze, Norris didn’t yield (rightly so) and they touched. It had consequences.
Let’s look at the Austria incident for what it is. It’s the same as Spain where Norris gets a out-of-jail-free card. And Verstappen is de boogeyman again. Articles like these show the bias. Never is Spain mentioned
MadMax (@madmax)
18th July 2024, 10:36
Nonsense. Verstappen just overreacted in Spain, all by himself. There was enough space to stay on the track. Dont distort reality to fit your bias.
baasbas
19th July 2024, 9:43
@madmax
Dont distort reality to fit your bias.
I can’t think of a funnier reply to what I said. So I guess: thanks for proving me right!