Norris and Verstappen Friendship Fractures Amidst Heated Championship Rivalry?
Nov.6 - Lando Norris' friendship with Max Verstappen may have been stretched beyond its limit in recent weeks.
There have been signs - as the pair clashed on track, in the points standings, as well as verbally via the media at times - that the pair are not currently on speaking terms.
"It's hard to maintain friendships if you're really fighting for the championship and for positions, as they are," former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher told formel1.de.
"They didn't fly together to the last races, as was usually the case," the German added. "I'm not even sure whether the friendship still really exists."
As many others hailed Max Verstappen's victory from P17 on the grid at Interlagos - a match-point in the 2024 drivers' championship - Norris, 24, initially said it was more about "luck" than "talent".
Dutch racing legend Tom Coronel told De Telegraaf newspaper: "That was really not luck, but a strategic choice that involved a risk that worked out well."
Ziggo Sport commentator Olav Mol went a step further, saying of Norris' dismissive comments: "Shame on you.
"I found that sentence vile and not ok," he added. "That it had nothing to do with luck but was pure luck. I find that really sad.
"You should not say that after such a performance. I mean, Norris started from pole position, and where did he finish? The only answer I can give is that that was not talent.
"He has never finished lower from pole position, so he has no right to say what he said. You shouldn't dismiss Max like that, or anyone else for that matter."
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"I found that sentence vile and not ok," he added. "That it had nothing to do with luck but was pure luck".
Talent you mean?
Lando was just bitter because he knew his challenge was over, i understand that but, the comment although said in haste shows his inexperience at the sharp end, he isnt isnt of Maxes quality , we all know it
Any tyre change under red flag should incur a time penalty taken in the pits equal to a tyre change pit stop, rejoining at safety car speed until the race restarts. Or a 3sec drive through penalty in the event of a standing start taken on the first or second lap after the restart. Would that work?
I'm getting a sour grapes feeling on the opportunity to chagee tyres under the red flag, how many drivers have done it in the past :even Lando:how many teams are hoping for a red flag opportunity even before the race starts, sour grapes because Max maximised & Lando missed out but if the boot was on the other foot he would have taking it, OK no changing tyres under the red flag, I like the rule as nobody knows when the red flags going to come out so some drivers get lucky, exciting it's just part of F1 it's not cheating it's Lando eating SOUR GRAPES.
Correct 100%
Didn’t Max throw a hissy fit on Saturday?
The worst thing is that these rules are open to manipulation by teams and officials, not that they ever would of course.🥴
So it's the teams & officials that are cheating then,,, why doesn't that surprise me, I say keep the tyre change under the red flag rule.
Olav Mol's comment "he has no right to say what he said" only applies if you live in Russia, North Korea, China or Iran, where free speech does not exist. Lando, or Max for that matter, may say what they like. Only risk is that their comments may ensure they get egg on their face, as Lando's words have shown!
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