In a dramatic Austrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen didn’t hold back in criticizing his Red Bull team’s strategy and execution, labeling their performance as “awful” after a contentious collision with Lando Norris ended both drivers’ hopes of victory.
Verstappen appeared ready to increase his lead in the championship with a commanding performance at the Red Bull Ring after starting from pole position. But a string of errors during pit stops allowed Norris of McLaren to reduce the distance, turning what looked like an easy route to win into a nightmare.
Verstappen expressed his annoyance by saying, “Today, we did everything wrong. Simply said, it’s quite disappointing.” His remarks followed a race in which Verstappen had an early eight-second lead, but Red Bull’s tactical blunders allowed Norris to eventually re-enter the race.
The turning point came in the final stint when Norris, benefiting from fresher tyres, began to hunt down Verstappen. The tense battle between the two young talents reached a climax on Lap 64 when they collided at Turn 3, resulting in both cars suffering rear-tyre punctures.
Lewis Hamilton has 2 wins at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. His first was in 2016. Another Lewis vs Nico classic in which Lewis came out on top on the last lap of the race! 🏁 🇦🇹 #F1 #AustrianGP #LewisHamilton #TeamLHpic.twitter.com/zjpEuGLF8F
— James | 104 POLES! 🇬🇧🏁 (@James_UK7) June 24, 2024
After serving a 10-second penalty for the incident, Verstappen was able to finish in fifth place, but Norris was forced to withdraw because of the damage to his McLaren.
Verstappen remarked after the event, saying, “I had to give up and just concentrate on trying to maintain my position when I had to defend hard. These incidents are unpleasant, but racing is what’s going on.”
Stewards eventually determined that Verstappen was at blame for the incident, sparking controversy and arguments over who was at fault following the crash. Verstappen insisted that Red Bull was in a vulnerable position because of their strategy failures, even after receiving a penalty.
Fans and analysts alike were left stunned by the dramatic turn of events in Spielberg. Verstappen’s post-race comments, where he openly criticized his team’s decision-making, added fuel to the already fiery aftermath of the collision.
“It’s frustrating because we had such a good car today,” Verstappen lamented. “We put ourselves in the fight with Lando when we didn’t need to. We’ll discuss it internally, but it’s just not good enough.”
Verstappen suffered a major setback at the Austrian Grand Prix, which allowed Lewis Hamilton, his primary adversary, to reduce the deficit in the standings and win the World Championship. In a Mercedes that found it difficult to match Red Bull’s performance all weekend, Hamilton ended in second place.
The incident at the Red Bull Ring will probably have an impact on both Verstappen and Norris as the Formula 1 season goes on, and it will also likely have an impact on Red Bull Racing as they evaluate their future plans. Every race and every point matters in the title fight, where passions are high and the 2024 season is on the line.
The fallout from Austria has set the stage for an intense remainder of the season, with Verstappen and Red Bull facing increased pressure to deliver flawless performances in the races to come. Whether they can bounce back from this setback remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the drama and excitement of Formula 1 continue unabated.
Read More: FansGossip
