Max Verstappen told what the ‘saddest thing’ is about Austrian GP collision with Lando Norris

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Max Verstappen’s collision with Lando Norris towards the end of the Austrian Grand Prix might have been inevitable for some.

The Red Bull driver’s lead was under threat from Norris due to an uncharacteristically slow pitstop from Red Bull and the tyre offset in the final stint. The McLaren driver fitted a new set of Mediums while Verstappen had to settle for a used set, causing him to lose around two-tenths per lap to the Briton.

Verstappen tried to fend off Norris by making subtle changes in direction in the braking zones of Turn 3, an uphill section of the Red Bull Ring, causing the McLaren driver to take avoiding action or attempt erratic moves to get past him.

On his final attempt, Norris took the outside of the corner when Verstappen initially positioned his car in the middle of the track. A sudden change to the left from the Red Bull caused the pair to make contact, causing punctures for both cars and forcing them to pit.

While Norris had to retire do to the excess damage sustained on his way to the pits, Verstappen continued and went on to salvage fifth place despite being handed a 10-second time penalty by the stewards.

The relationship between Norris and Verstappen has been put into the spotlight after the crash, with former F1 driver Tiff Needell pointing out the ‘saddest part’ of the clash when speaking on the Lovecars On The Grid podcast.

Tiff Needell points out ‘saddest thing’ about Max Verstappen and Lando Norris clash

Norris said that he expected an apology from Verstappen and Red Bull after the crash cost him his second potential race win of the season, while also forefitting important points in the Drivers’ Championship.

Neither party was willing to give an apology, with radio communications revealing that they felt Norris ‘didn’t behave correct’ and that Verstappen had been ‘desperately unlucky’ in the clash.

Martin Brundle believes the exchanges damaged Red Bull’s credibility, while Needell feels it was inevitable they would not offer any apology.

“The moving under braking law, Max broke it several times very badly [in Austria]. The saddest thing is that they can’t accept it, Lando said ‘If he apologises to me we can move on’ but they won’t because they’re so arrogant,” said Needell.

Red Bull fail to impress at ‘home’ race

Verstappen’s driving has been put into the spotlight once again after things boiled over between him and Norris at the Red Bull Ring.

The team was keen to impress as it’s home circuit where there was no doubt several dignataries present from the Austian soft drinks company.

Instead they did anything but that, inducing an unforced error during one of Verstappen’s pit stops, compromising his tyre strategy, then appearing to back their driver who many – including Damon Hill – felt produced a reckless defence against Norris. Brundle also felt there was an ‘alarming’ nature to Verstappen’s driving in the aftermath when the pair tried to limp back to the pits in their damaged cars.

Verstappen’s stern defensive driving was a legacy of it going unpunished in the years prior, but many now feel is the time for it to be clamped down on before there is any more needless accidents.