Verstappen: « I could also stay at home »
Questioned after his collision with Norris, Verstappen didn't mince his words in front of the cameras. He assumes responsibility for his aggressive driving during the Austrian GP.
Winner of the Sprint race and poleman of the Grand Prix, Verstappen’s weekend was perfect before the 64th lap of the race. Dominant, we were heading calmly towards his 8th victory of the season. Lando Norris wasn’t that far away… but not close enough, as often. Relegated to 7 seconds twenty laps before the finish, the British driver didn’t seem to be able to challenge Red Bull’s dominance on its own grounds.
A failed pit stop that changes everything
« If you look at the whole race, we also made a lot of mistakes on our side: pit stops, strategy… I think we could have done better. » Max Verstappen is not mistaken. Red Bull complicated things for themselves with this failed pit stop on the 52nd lap. The Dutchman lost over 5 seconds, putting Norris just 2 seconds behind. The latter, fired up, pushed Max Verstappen to defend fiercely for over 10 laps before the inevitable collision.
« I am also bothered. These kinds of things can happen even if we don’t want them to. There were a few times when it happened from quite far away, a little out of control. Then he tried on the other side but I was there too, and we touched our rear tires. I wasn’t expecting that in this turn, for him to come from the outside.
He owns up to his aggressive behavior.
Interviewed by Laurent Dupin, a journalist at Canal+, the Dutchman was true to himself. When asked about the need to fight hard even though he still has a lead in the championship, the world champion replied:
« Yes, I could also stay at home! I am here to win, not to come in second place. When you fight for victory, you have to give it your all. That’s the way it should be.
