Lando Norris opened up about his intense rivalry with Max Verstappen ahead of the British Grand Prix in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport. Reflecting on their collision at the Red Bull Ring. Norris emphasized the importance of hard racing while aiming to avoid future incidents.
The clash occurred six laps before the end of Sunday’s race. Leading to Norris’s early exit and dropping Verstappen to a fifth-place finish. Norris accused Verstappen of changing his line in the braking zone, a dangerous move against F1 rules. Despite the tension, Norris confirmed they have been in contact and plan to have a more extensive conversation to clear the air.
“We’ve texted,” Norris said. “We’re going to have a chat, of course, because I think it’s the correct thing to do. But apart from that, what we talk about and how things go is between us.”
Norris acknowledged that adrenaline played a role in his post-race comments, but he remains firm in his belief that he did nothing wrong on track. He noted the significant difference between fighting for his first win compared to Verstappen’s numerous victories.
Norris highlighted the importance of understanding Verstappen’s racing mentality to compete effectively. “It’s understanding what he thinks, how he thinks, all those types of things, is the mentality you need to go in with,” he said.
Despite the nerve-wracking nature of the battle, Norris expressed his excitement and love for the challenge. “It was nerve-wracking. It was exciting. Even for me inside the car. My eyes were wide open. I was loving it.”
Norris already achieved his maiden victory at the Miami Grand Prix and has emerged as one of Red Bull’s most consistent rivals. He is optimistic about more wins on the horizon, despite the dominance of Verstappen and Red Bull.
“We’re going against what everyone has been saying as the most competitive car in history,” Norris said. “And to go up against one of these groups or teams in general you need everything to go pretty much perfectly, and things are almost there.”
Looking ahead to the British Grand Prix, Norris is excited about the possibility of a home win, emphasizing the special atmosphere and energy at Silverstone. “If I could win anywhere and only once, it would be Silverstone,” he said.
Norris’s confidence in McLaren’s progress is bolstered by the team’s remarkable turnaround last season and his extended contract through 2026. He attributes much of the improvement to team principal Andrea Stella. “Andrea in my eyes has been the biggest key to this whole turnaround,” Norris stated.
With a renewed sense of optimism and determination, Norris and McLaren aim to continue their upward trajectory. Challenging the top teams and securing more victories.
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