The battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at the Austrian GP was nothing short of intense, with both drivers vying for the win until the very last moment. In a dramatic turn of events, the two cars made contact, resulting in Norris retiring from the race and Verstappen finishing in P5.
The incident, deemed Verstappen’s fault as he hit Norris while defending his position, led the FIA to impose a 10-second penalty on Verstappen. Despite this, Verstappen retained his fifth-place finish, a point that did not sit well with McLaren. Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision, drawing comparisons to past incidents involving Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
McLaren’s Discontent with Austrian GP Outcome
When the collision occurred, both drivers’ tires were punctured. Nevertheless, neither opted to stop immediately. Verstappen managed to drive his car back to the pitlane, change tires, and complete the race in fifth place. In contrast, Norris had to retire, dropping from a potential P2 finish. Stella voiced his concerns, stating, “The problem is that if you don’t address these things honestly, they will come back.”
Stella pointed out previous battles involving Verstappen and Hamilton, suggesting that such incidents were not addressed with the necessary severity. “They have come back today because they were not addressed properly in the past, where there were fights with Lewis that needed to be punished in a harsher way,” he remarked.
FIA’s Verdict on the Incident
Despite McLaren’s protest, the FIA concluded that no further actions were necessary beyond the 10-second penalty already issued to Verstappen. The official FIA statement read: “After reviewing the evidence provided by McLaren, the decision remains that a 10-second penalty is sufficient. No additional penalties will be imposed.”
The Austrian GP highlighted the competitive nature of F1, even among friends like Verstappen and Norris. The incident raises questions about how it might affect their relationship moving forward, but for now, the focus remains on the next race and the ongoing championship battle.
