In the aftermath of every Grand Prix, racer Jeroen Bleekemolen shares his exclusive insights about the past race weekend. Who or what caught his attention, what went well, and what needs to change? This time, he discusses the growing rivalry between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen and its impact on their friendship. ‘It’s getting complicated,’ he says.
The escalating rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris is a full-blown affair. They are good friends, but after their clash in the final stages of the Austrian GP, their friendship seems to be on hold. They did, however, share the same flight home on Sunday evening. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall during that journey.
On the other hand, I know that Max and Lando are two fun, down-to-earth guys with strong opinions. Above all, they are pure racers. I believe they can quickly put a minor incident like the one at the Red Bull Ring behind them.
Breaking Down the Incident
Regarding the incident itself, Max simply gave Lando a ‘nudge.’ I think it was a deliberate nudge. He intentionally let his car drift outward, but not without reason. Norris had been driving on the edge, and sometimes over it. He had made two aggressive moves, so I could understand Max’s frustration.
Indeed, for a racer, such actions can be maddening. Why? Because the person behind you (in this case, Norris) is essentially braking too late. The only thing you can do as a racer is to leave the door wide open; otherwise, you both go off the track. These are overtaking maneuvers that are not acceptable.
The clash that followed cannot be separated from Norris’s earlier actions. Max seemed to think, ‘You want to go around the outside? Fine. Here it comes!’ before delivering that nudge. Call it a warning shot, a way to set boundaries. Because Max is not someone who lets others walk all over him, as we know by now.
Reflections on the Race and the Rivalry
The imposed penalty (ten seconds plus two penalty points) seems fair to me, but I also believe it was justified that he dealt a blow to Norris. In my opinion, the latter could have also deserved a penalty for the two previous actions.
Max is a true killer. Was his action towards Norris smart? No. He could have thought: ‘I’ll finish second today or I’ll try to get him back later’. But a Verstappen does not finish second. Max does not calculate, he races. In Austria, I saw the old Max return, as he was when he entered Formula 1 in 2015. And I find that quite beautiful.
Max and Lando: A Cut Above the Rest
Max and Lando are evenly matched. They also stand head and shoulders above the rest of the field. Let’s be honest, their teammates were not really seen in Austria either. This applies to Oscar Piastri, but certainly also to Sergio Pérez. Max and Lando are simply a cut above the rest and then you can occasionally elbow each other. It is clear that this season and next year it will really only be between them.
The Future of Their Rivalry
I am curious how their friendship will develop as their rivalry begins to get sharper edges. It will be complicated. They stand diametrically opposed to each other, both have an opinion and both believe they are right, which is difficult. The future will show which way it goes. Senna-Prost? I would only find it beautiful for the sport…
Looking Forward to the British Grand Prix
Next week we have the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. For Max, it’s the lion’s den. He will undoubtedly (and unfortunately) be treated to boos by British fans again. But believe me, he doesn’t care at all and it only makes him stronger. I’m putting my money on Max again.
