Max Verstappen: Crimson Bull boss Christian Horner backs ‘exhausting racer’ to not change after Lando Norris conflict | F1 Information

Christian Horner insists Max Verstappen is not going to be altering after once more defending his driver following his conflict with Lando Norris finally weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.

The reigning world champion was handed a 10-second penalty for the incident on lap 64 with the pair combating for the lead which resulted in them colliding and allowed Mercedes’ George Russell to brush by means of for victory.

Talking at Crimson Bull Racing headquarters in Milton Keynes forward of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, group principal Horner backed Verstappen’s method and expects extra shut racing between him and McLaren rival Norris.

“I perceive they’ve spoken already, I do not suppose there may be any subject,” Horner instructed Sky Sports activities Information. “Actually, from Max’s aspect, he isn’t going to alter.

“There’s a component, I believe, of Lando studying tips on how to race Max they usually’re discovering that. Inevitably, there may be going to be extra shut racing between the 2 of them because the automobiles look so shut over the forthcoming races.

“Max is a tough racer – he is in all probability one of many hardest racers on the circuit and all people is aware of that if you are going to race towards Max, he’ll give nearly as good as he will get.”

Verstappen ultimately completed fifth in Austria, though the conflict introduced an finish to Norris’ race and McLaren group principal Andrea Stella was amongst these to fiercely criticise the Dutchman amid the fall-out on the Crimson Bull Ring.

Nonetheless, Horner refuted Stella’s assertion that it was a direct results of Verstappen not being punished for incidents when he and Lewis Hamilton have been combating it out for the world title three years in the past.

“He raced extremely exhausting in 2021, he is a troublesome racer, and he hasn’t actually been racing anybody for 2 years as a result of he is been out entrance a lot,” Horner mentioned.

“The battle between the 2 of them has been constructing over two, three, 4 races the place they have been racing one another intently and exhausting, and in some unspecified time in the future that was at all times going to spill over – and it did at Flip 3.

“He was punished in 2021 if he did one thing flawed simply as Lewis, who he was racing so exhausting that 12 months, was for issues he did flawed.

“I believe it is flawed and unfair to label a driver like that and I am certain within the warmth of the second it was irritating for Andrea, however that is simply robust racing. He labored with Michael Schumacher [at Ferrari] for therefore a few years – he of all folks ought to know that.”

As considered one of three British drivers on the grid, Norris will doubtless have sizeable assist at Silverstone when Method 1 rolls into the Northamptonshire circuit for the British Grand Prix this weekend.

Horner isn’t involved about the potential for Verstappen dealing with a hostile reception although.

“I am certain it will be a partisan crowd for the British drivers as it’s for Max in Holland, however I believe each time we go to these tracks there may be at all times respect for the opposite drivers,” Horner mentioned.

“I hope Max will get an affordable reception and I am certain it will be all orange once more this weekend – maybe not Max Verstappen followers, extra McLaren followers.

“That’ll be water off a duck’s again to him, he’ll have his head down and he will not change. He is the racer he’s and I am certain he’ll race simply as exhausting this weekend.”

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