After briefly competing for the win in the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint, Lando Norris was forced to settle for third place. Ultimately, chasing Max Verstappen lost him a spot, as Oscar Piastri, his teammate, took it instead. With a run that was just under a tenth slower in SQ3, Norris qualified alongside Verstappen on the front row. Initially, they maintained their positions, but as the race progressed, the British driver started to get closer.
Given that the Red Bull Ring features three zones over one of the shortest laps on the calendar, the DRS proved very potent there. Because of this, Norris was able to apply consistent pressure to Verstappen.
The McLaren driver sped down the inside at turn three on lap five, after threatening to move once more. At the next bend, though, Verstappen pushed his way back past.
After threatening to move again, the McLaren driver accelerated down the inside at turn three on lap five. Verstappen, though, forced his way back past at the next turn.
Max Verstappen is surprised by Lando Norris’ “lunge” on Martin Brundle. While providing commentary for Sky Sports F1, analyst Martin Brundle praised Norris for a “brilliant” move. Neither Verstappen nor him saw it coming.
The two drivers’ ongoing rivalry reached a new level during the Spielberg Sprint. This year, things are different from 2023, when the Dutchman had the most dominant season in Formula One history, when Norris was unable to compete with him. With their latest improvements, McLaren may have the best all-around package on the grid. After finishing second to Verstappen in three of the previous four races, Norris lamented making expensive mistakes in Canada and Spain.
Here, the current world champion barely managed to “survive” an unanticipated assault. He started to take charge after that and steadily established a sizable advantage. “Verstappen has it back under control right now, having survived that brilliant lunge from Norris that was a real surprise out of the blue,” Brundle remarked.
McLaren wants to see a shift in Norris’s character. For this year’s world championship, Norris has not ruled out going up against Verstappen. Though the ground he lost early in the season could prove expensive, he is currently about equal to the 26-year-old. Four of the first five races were won handily by Verstappen, but McLaren’s upgrades eliminated the lead. He is now 71 points down in the title after this Saturday’s Sprint.
His mindset needs to shift, as Andrea Stella and company hope. His “beating himself up” has to stop and he should drive with more “confidence.” According to Jolyon Palmer, in order for Norris and McLaren to defeat Verstappen, “perfection” is necessary. The superstar of Red Bull has set higher expectations for himself and his competitors, and they must rise.