Christian Horner insists Max Verstappen is not going to change after once more defending his driver following a conflict with Lando Norris ultimately weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
The reigning world champion was handed a 10-second penalty for an incident on lap 64 because the pair battled for the lead, inflicting them to collide and permitting Mercedes’ George Russell to win.
Talking at Purple Bull Racing headquarters in Milton Keynes forward of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, crew principal Horner backed Verstappen’s strategy and expects nearer racing between him and McLaren rival Norris.
“I perceive they’ve already talked, I do not suppose there’s any drawback,” Horner stated Sky Sports activities Information. “After all, from Max’s facet, he’s not going to alter.
“I believe there’s a component of Lando studying the way to race with Max and them discovering that. It’s inevitable that there will probably be nearer racing between the 2 because the vehicles look so shut within the upcoming races.
“Max is a troublesome rider – he is in all probability one of many hardest riders on the circuit and everybody is aware of that if you are going to race in opposition to Max, he’ll give it his all.”
Verstappen ultimately completed fifth in Austria, though the collision ended Norris’s race, with McLaren crew principal Andrea Stella amongst those that harshly criticized the Dutchman amid the row on the Purple Bull Ring.
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Anthony Davidson was on SkyPad to ship the decision on whether or not Max Verstappen or Lando Norris was guilty for the crash that value each their probability of victory
Nevertheless, Horner denied Stella’s declare that it was a direct results of Verstappen not being penalized for incidents when he and Lewis Hamilton battled for the world title three years in the past.
“In 2021 he is had an unbelievable race, he is a troublesome rider and he hasn’t actually raced anybody for 2 years as a result of he is been forward a lot,” Horner stated.
“There was a battle between them over the course of two, three, 4 races, the place they had been combating one another tight and onerous, and sooner or later it was at all times going to return up – and it did at Flip 3.
“He was punished in 2021 when he did one thing fallacious, like Lewis, who he was concerned with a lot that 12 months, for what he did fallacious.
“I believe it is fallacious and unfair to name a rider that method, and I am certain it annoyed Andrea within the warmth of the second, nevertheless it’s simply powerful racing. He labored with Michael Schumacher [at Ferrari] for therefore a few years – he of all folks ought to know that.”
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Norris was livid after a collision with Verstappen pressured him to retire from the Austrian Grand Prix
As one among three British drivers on the grid, Norris is prone to have loads of assist at Silverstone when F1 involves the Northamptonshire circuit for this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Horner just isn’t frightened in regards to the chance that Verstappen will face a hostile reception.
“I am certain it may be a partisan crowd for the British riders, similar to it was for Max in Holland, however I believe each time we go to those tracks we at all times have respect for the opposite riders,” Horner stated.
“I hope Max will get an affordable reception and I am certain issues will probably be orange once more this weekend – perhaps not by Max Verstappen followers, however extra by McLaren followers.
“It is going to be water off a duck’s again for him, he’ll put his head down and never change. He is the rider he’s and I am certain he’ll be racing simply as onerous this weekend.”
F1’s summer season triple-header ends with the large one, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Watch each session stay on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Showcase, with Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream each F1 race and extra with NOW Sports activities Month membership – no contract, cancel anytime
