Brundle’s Verdict: Verstappen-Norris Clash and the Shadow of a Verstappen-Horner Feud

Proposal that dispute between Jos Verstappen and Christian Horner affected the comeback of ‘Max 1.0’

Martin Brundle shares his opinion on the crash involving Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in Austria.

Martin Brundle has proposed that the disagreement involving Red Bull F1 team leader Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen could have influenced Max Verstappen's racing results at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Over the weekend, a new conflict arose between Verstappen's father and Horner when Verstappen Sr. withdrew from a scheduled Legends Parade appearance. He accused the head of the Red Bull team of intentionally preventing him from participating.

On Saturday, Verstappen Jr acknowledged that the dispute was “unpleasant” and unnecessary. During the Grand Prix on Sunday, the thrice-crowned world champion’s chances of winning were dashed following a late crash with McLaren's Lando Norris during an intense fight for the top spot.

Verstappen managed to secure a fifth-place finish and widen his lead in the championship standings. However, in his most recent race analysis for Sky, Brundle scrutinized the Dutch driver's approach to racing.

"Was he aware of his presence? He acknowledged after the race that he was indeed, having a good handle on the situation. Their collision resulted in Norris being unable to finish, while Verstappen managed to complete nearly three-quarters of a lap with a flat tire," Brundle noted.

What struck me as concerning was that following their collision, as both were struggling to keep pace, Verstappen evidently attempted to hinder Norris's progress and possibly cause a further incident. For the incident at turn three, Verstappen was penalized with a 10-second time addition. However, his impressive speed on new tyres meant the penalty had little impact, allowing him to climb back to fifth position and, to the dismay of several, even extend his lead in the championship standings.

Through my columns and discussions, I've consistently praised Max's exceptional skills. After observing for four decades, I maintain he's among the top talents I've ever seen.

"I've previously noted that he seemed more composed, had matured, and adopted a more strategic approach to racing after securing three championships. However, this facade seems to have been superficial, as this race displayed his original aggressive driving style and typical denials making a comeback.

"I'm not trying to justify his actions, however, I can't help but ponder whether the absurd disagreement involving his father Jos and team leader Christian Horner has ultimately made its way onto the race track affecting him.

"Listening to the Red Bull team blame Norris over the radio after the race was tough, undermining their overall credibility."

Brundle criticized Norris, suggesting that the young British driver, aged 24, should develop greater patience and strategy if he hopes to outperform Verstappen in upcoming races.

Brundle mentioned that Norris was evidently facing a five-second penalty due to exceeding track boundaries, stating that this move was completely avoidable for Red Bull.

"It should also be noted that Lando's approach to racing was quite bold and aggressive. To consistently outperform Max and secure a championship, he will require a greater level of skill, endurance, and strategy."

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