McLaren’s criticism of Verstappen is ‘false and unfair’

Red Bull Formula One team boss Christian Horner has described criticism of Max Verstappen by his McLaren counterpart Andrea Stella as “false and unfair”.

Horner also insisted Verstappen “wouldn’t change” his aggressive approach following his collision with Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix.

After battling for the lead for several laps towards the end of Sunday’s race, Verstappen made contact with McLaren driver Norris at Turn 3, both of them suffering a flat tyre each.

Verstappen finished fifth after a tyre change, while the damage to Norris’ McLaren was too severe to continue.

Subsequently, Norris and his McLaren team principal Andrea Stella were extremely unhappy with Verstappen’s aggressive defensive tactics, believing the Dutchman moved several times under braking before sending Norris off the road on lap 64.

But Horner says Verstappen “won’t change” his approach, suggesting Norris is now discovering how hard the world champion races.

“Certainly from Max’s side he’s not going to change,” Horner told Sky Sports.

“I think Lando is learning to race with Max and they’re figuring it out.

“Inevitably there will be some closer racing between the two as the cars look very close over the next few races.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battle for the lead

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

“Max is a hard rider – he’s probably one of the hardest riders on the circuit and everyone knows that if you’re going to race against Max, he’s going to give his best.”

Horner added that Verstappen and Norris had already clarified the situation privately after letting tempers cool down after the race.

“I understand they’ve already talked, I don’t think there’s a problem,” he said.

McLaren boss Stella suggested Verstappen’s aggressive tactics were reinforced by his 2021 campaign against Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, when Stella felt Verstappen was not adequately punished every time he exceeded the limit in their title fight.

Horner felt that idea was unfair, although he admitted that a clash between Verstappen and Norris had been “brewing” since the Miami Grand Prix.

“He raced incredibly hard in 2021, he’s a tough rider, and he hasn’t really raced with anyone in two years because he’s been in front so much,” Horner said.

“The conflict between the two men built over two, three, four races where they were battling it out in a tight, fierce manner, and at some point it was always going to boil over – and that’s what happened at Turn 3.

“He was punished in 2021 if he did something wrong, just like Lewis, who he was racing so hard against that year, was punished for things he did wrong.

“I think it’s wrong and unfair to label a driver like that and I’m sure in the heat of the moment it was frustrating for Andrea, but it’s just a tough race.

“He worked with Michael Schumacher (at Ferrari) for many years. He of all people should know that.”