Verstappen prioritizes friendship with Norris after on-track collision

SILVERSTONE, England — Max Verstappen has underscored his commitment to maintaining a strong friendship with Lando Norris following their on-track collision at the Austrian Grand Prix, which saw both drivers suffering punctures while jostling for the lead.

Despite the high emotions surrounding the incident, Verstappen emphasized that his primary concern post-race was ensuring their camaraderie remained intact. "The only thing that I cared about is maintaining my relationship with Lando, because we are great friends," Verstappen stated. "After the race, I said we have to just let things cool down because emotions run high."

Norris, who initially voiced his disappointment, saying it depended on Verstappen's perspective whether their relationship would be affected, admitted later that he "overreacted" about the incident. The pair reconciled during conversations on the Monday and Wednesday following the race.

Reflecting on their discussions, Verstappen shared, "We immediately spoke on Monday, and I think we came to the conclusion that we actually really enjoyed our battle. It was such a silly little touch that of course had great consequences for both of us."

Despite having received a 10-second penalty for the collision, the Dutch driver stood firm in defending his racing approach. "I don't give a s--- about [the criticism]. I go home, I live my life," Verstappen remarked. "The only thing that I cared about was my relationship to Lando."

Verstappen elaborated on their driving dynamics, emphasizing the longstanding trust between them: "We've done this for many years, not only in Formula One, even in online racing where we've had a lot of fun together. We agreed with 99% of everything."

Addressing his own racing style, Verstappen explained, "Naturally there's always a human reaction when someone dives up the inside or outside, that you have a bit of a reaction to it. But I felt everything that I did was nothing massively over the top."

With the British Grand Prix on the horizon, both drivers seem to have moved beyond the altercation, with Verstappen concluding, "I know Lando, he's a great guy... He's fighting for his second potential win. I'm fighting for my 62nd win. Naturally your emotions are a little bit different."

As the Formula One season progresses, Verstappen and Norris’s ability to maintain their friendship amid fierce competition could inspire new narratives on and off the track.

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