Anthony Davidson believes Lando Norris should have stood his ground instead of backing down after his clash with Max Verstappen during the Austrian Grand Prix last year.
Although F1 2024 initially seemed like another dominant season for Verstappen, who claimed seven wins in the first 10 races, McLaren made significant strides in the development race and emerged as a serious threat to Red Bull.
This surge put McLaren in contention for both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships, with Norris applying pressure on Verstappen.
The Austrian GP marked the start of their intense battles, as Norris challenged Verstappen in the final stint, repeatedly attempting to overtake at Turn 3 in a fierce fight for the lead.
Verstappen managed to hold his ground, but the situation escalated with eight laps remaining when Norris attempted an outside move at Turn 3. Verstappen shut the door, resulting in contact that left both drivers with punctures. Norris retired from the race, while Verstappen finished fifth despite receiving a 10-second penalty for causing the collision.
Frustrated, Norris labeled Verstappen’s driving as “reckless” and “a little bit desperate,” saying:
“He doesn’t need to be, he’s got plenty of wins. But a bit desperate to do what he could to not let me pass. I know it’s going to be aggressive, so I’m not surprised, but I expected tough, fair, and respectful racing on the edge. That’s not what I got.”
However, just days later, Norris softened his stance, saying:
“He doesn’t need to apologise, and I don’t expect an apology. It was good racing, at times close to the edge, but we’ve spoken about it and are happy to move on and race again.”
Former F1 driver and Sky F1 pundit Anthony Davidson expressed disappointment in Lando Norris for not standing his ground after his clash with Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix.
“It’s what we didn’t want to hear from Lando after Austria, wasn’t it?” Davidson remarked. “It felt like he kind of fell in line with what Max had been saying. He then seemed to backtrack, saying, ‘oh, actually, yeah, it was more my fault, and I’ll race cleaner next time.’
“But no, we wanted to see him stick up for himself. Right after the race, he was strong in his comments, saying, ‘I’ve lost respect,’ and so on. But that stance didn’t last.”
In contrast, George Russell stood firm against Verstappen in 2024, engaging in a heated verbal exchange with the reigning World Champion after a stewards’ hearing at the Qatar Grand Prix. Verstappen received a one-place grid penalty for driving too slowly on a cooldown lap, something Russell reportedly pushed for.
Frustrated, Verstappen said, “I’ve been in many stewards’ meetings in my career, and I’ve never seen anyone try to screw someone over so hard. I lost all respect.”
Russell, however, didn’t hold back, telling the media, “His words were totally unnecessary. He’s crossed a line, and I’m not going to accept it. Someone needs to stand up to him and show he’s not above the law.”
The tension carried into the end-of-season drivers’ dinner, where Russell refused to sit near Verstappen. Despite this, Verstappen later expressed confidence that things would be “fine” between them next season.
Nico Rosberg praised Russell’s defiance, calling it a positive step for the sport. “This is George really stepping up to Max and fighting him,” said the 2016 World Champion. “It’s great to see. So far, no one besides Lewis [Hamilton], perhaps, has stood up to Max in this way. It’s refreshing, especially compared to Lando, who tends to soften his stance after a few days. George’s forcefulness is good for the competition.”