Verstappen is ‘not going to change’ – so Norris rivalry will

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris have cleared the air since their battle at the Austrian Grand Prix, which ended in their first clash, but this will inevitably change things on track.

“They've spoken already, I don't think there's any problem,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Sky Sports F1 ahead of this week's British Grand Prix. But he added: “Certainly, from Max's side, it won't change.

“I think there's an element of Lando learning how to race with Max and they're figuring it out.

“Inevitably, there will be more close races between them as the cars look very close in the upcoming races.”

Horner is right, Verstappen won’t change. That means the on-track rivalry with Norris will change.

There's a reason Norris was more upset than Verstappen about their clash, and Verstappen may not have had the consolation of at least finishing fifth (he wouldn't care).

Verstappen has been there before, clashing with almost everyone he has raced against. It’s natural to him – not malicious, just his interpretation of what racing is all about. Others don’t see it that way, but that’s how Verstappen sees it, and that’s how he races.

As Horner puts it, Lando “learns” and “discovers” things about his friend that he would only hear from other drivers or see in videos. But it’s a different story when you try to interact with it yourself in real time.

And that’s why, beyond just a controversial clash, the Austrian weekend will be so valuable to Norris because what you can expect or expect from Verstappen in a battle is not the same as what actually happens. It was another step in Norris’s up-close education of how Verstappen achieved what he achieved, and what it’s like to face Verstappen in reality.

We’ve seen glimpses over the past few weeks of how hard it is to beat Verstappen, to get 100 per cent and to hit the big moments – Canada with the safety car, Barcelona with the start, Austria’s sprint race. Formula 1 is all about the little things, and if you look at the little details that tipped the balance in Verstappen’s favour in each of those races away from Norris, you’ll find ways it could have been different.

Verstappen was probably ready to pit the second the safety car was deployed in Canada. Verstappen has an incredibly consistent and high-quality start. Verstappen doesn’t leave the door open when he gets ahead of his rival and moves ahead of him on the next straight to defend his position.

It's easy to write all this down but hard to put into practice, especially during a race. Which is why, 24 hours before he criticised Verstappen during Sunday's race in Austria, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella praised the Dutchman: “It's clear that Max's racing skills are excellent.

“He knows how to defend when the car behind him has drag reduction, and at a track like Austria it is sometimes forbidden when the car is so close. But he was able to make the right decisions without even contact or anything like that.

“There are different levels. And at the moment Max, by the current standards of Formula 1 drivers in 2024, is setting a very high bar, which is an aspiration for others.”

By Sunday evening, Stella felt differently, at least about that particular fight. But that’s still part of Norris’s learning process. Because what Norris hasn’t experienced firsthand is that brutality.

As Horner said: “If you’re going to race Max, he’s going to give it his all.” And then there’s more. Norris got his first taste of it in Formula 1. He didn’t win, but he showed he wouldn’t just give up.

Norris tried different things – a conventional pass (blocked under braking), a sudden dive (went too far, flew off the track), a better dive (but didn't leave Verstappen enough room on the exit) and that final move on the outside (Where Verstappen returned to).

Norris said he had no reason to do anything different or change the way he raced with Verstappen because he had done nothing wrong. But it is worth noting that he lost that battle. Norris will have to work to prevent that in the future. Every battle will present a different scenario, and the answer will not be the same every time.

If you ask, “Could Norris have done anything differently to survive another lap” in Austria, the answer is yes, even if it’s a bit harsh. Norris may realize in hindsight that he could have been a few inches above the outside kerb.

But that doesn’t mean he should have done it – Verstappen has to leave the width of the car to the edge of the track, and that’s the white line, not the kerb – and perhaps Norris was drawing a line, knowing he needed to fight fire with fire. Maybe he would have outdone Verstappen that way. Maybe he will next time, especially if he gains some of that experience.

It's good that Norris has had a lot of experience in this battle and that he held his own against Verstappen. What he learned this time could lead to a different outcome next time.

Norris needs to rein himself in when he's pushed too hard, and he needs to remember how Verstappen didn't give him more than the rules allowed in some cases and was willing to not give that at times too.

He has to take what he has learned here and translate it into a classy way to take on Verstappen.

Because if he doesn’t change, and Horner insists Verstappen won’t, then it’s going to be the same every time they fight in the future. Not necessarily through friction and hostility, but through Verstappen winning.