Lando Norris Slams Verstappen After Austrian GP Collision

Lando Norris accused Max Verstappen, his friend and closest rival, of unfair driving after their collision at the Austrian Grand Prix. Verstappen received a 10-second penalty for causing the crash while defending against Norris, who was forced to retire. Norris criticized Verstappen for moving under braking and called his driving “reckless” and “desperate.” Russell’s victory marked Mercedes’ first since the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix. He held off McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in the final laps, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished third.

Lewis Hamilton, despite a penalty, finished fourth. Verstappen finished fifth, maintaining his position despite the penalty. The critical moment came on lap 64 when Norris attempted to pass Verstappen on the outside. Verstappen moved towards Norris, leading to a collision that caused punctures for both cars. Lando Norris’ car suffered extensive damage, leading to his retirement, while Verstappen managed to pit without major damage.

Former F1 driver Jack Aitken supported the penalty for Verstappen, stating he didn’t leave enough space for Norris. Despite the penalty, Verstappen extended his championship lead to 81 points over Norris. The incident ended Verstappen’s dominant race, which was affected by a slow pit stop. Norris’ attempts to pass were thwarted by Verstappen’s aggressive defense, leading to the final collision.

The crash handed Russell the win, highlighting Mercedes’ recent progress. Piastri finished second, while Sainz had a quiet race in fourth. Norris’ remarks about Verstappen’s driving add tension to their on-track rivalry.