Lando Norris has cautioned there may be downstream implications for his collision with Max Verstappen in the closing stages of the Austrian Grand Prix.
The three-time drivers’ champion had built up a seven-second advantage, but a poor second pit stop for the Dutchman on lap 51 allowed Norris to reel him and apply pressure on the Red Bull. On lap 55 of the 71 lap race, the McLaren made its first attempt on the lead.
The battle, which waged on for close to 10 laps, involved a number of close calls and saw Norris handed a five-second time penalty for his fourth track limits violation.
Their fight crescendoed on lap 64, with the British driver making a move around the outside of Turn 3, which Verstappen moved to block, causing contact between the pair.
The front right of the McLaren collected the rear left of the RB20, causing punctures on both cars. Verstappen was judged responsible for the collision and awarded a 10-second time penalty.
Whilst the 26-year-old dropped to fifth, where he would finish, after limping back to the pits, Norris was forced into retirement with extensive damage to his MCL38 – something he says will impact the Woking team at its home grand prix.
“The best bits of the car – all for the bin,” Norris told media including RacingNews365. “We don’t have a lot of space in the battle that we’re in, in terms of upgrades and budget cap and things like that.
“My whole cars destroyed – and these are all the bits that we needed for next week. It’s not just a repercussion of what happens on the track, it’s everything that now we have to carry into Silverstone and be disadvantaged by.”
Norris ‘expected a bit more’ from Verstappen
In the aftermath of the incident, Norris admonished Verstappen in harsh terms, who he is friends with when not battling on track.
Opinion is divided on if the Dutchman is at fault, or whether it was a racing incident. It appears very few feel blame should be placed at the door of the McLaren driver, who himself felt Verstappen did not extend him the same courtesies he gave.
The 24-year-old did not hold back in his remarks, highlighting that the actions of the Red Bull driver “ruined” both of their afternoons.
“[I] just expected a bit more from him, that’s all,” Norris said. “I don’t wanna talk about it too much. I do what I can – I try and drive a good, fair race. It’s just not what I got in return from his side.
“I feel like what he did was unfair from my side. Three of the times no warning was issued. He did it again the final time and ruined both our races.”
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