Remember when the 2024 Formula 1 season looked like it was going to be a total bore? Remember when the new Red Bull looked like they had moved the goalposts back compared to the rest of the grid, and when Max Verstappen took a commanding four wins from the first five races?
It was a time when Verstappen used his expertise to take an overwhelming lead in the championship, and he responded to challenges from multiple directions by winning much tougher races in Imola, Canada and Spain.
Things are different now, with Lando Norris constantly knocking on his door, and Verstappen having to get used to having a proper rival again.
He also had to fend off attacks in the Austrian sprint to extend his lead to 71 points heading into Sunday’s main grand prix, but for the first time in years it looked as though Verstappen had really misunderstood his approach.
Aggression has always been a big part of his driving style and he doesn’t like to give up positions easily. But he has also spoken in recent years of simply taking the best result on offer and accepting days when there is no race-winning package.
The problem in Austria was that he clearly had the potential to win the race during the weekend, but for various reasons he suddenly disappeared in the final stunt.
Verstappen complained mid-race that his tyres were suddenly not performing as well as expected, and after one pitstop had already gone poorly, he went to pit slightly early to coincide with McLaren’s stop and reduce the risk of being caught by the Safety Car, causing a stuck left rear wheel nut to force him to drive even slower.
All of these factors combined to leave Norris more than two seconds behind the frustrated Verstappen, and with the advantage of new medium-sized tyres on Red Bull’s used tyres, Norris was in DRS range, so strong in Austria that he could never be left behind again.
Lap after lap it was a battle until the inevitable happened at Turn 3 braking. Steven Tee/Motorsport Images
But this race was different from the previous one where Norris had a chance to come back from Verstappen. Red Bull looked the better side. This race looked like it was going to be won for a long time. There were always a lot of Dutchmen in the Red Bull ring, so the thought of being overtaken and losing was hard to accept.
“It seemed a little bit desperate on his part,” Norris later said. “He doesn’t need to do that. He’s had a lot of wins. [it was] He wanted to do everything he could to keep me from getting through.”
“I think [Norris] “You were right when you said this was a great fight, but you don’t have to act so desperately,” Andrea Stella also speculated after the match. “The world [end] Whether the following vehicle’s overtaking maneuver will be completed.
“Max, you’re going to have your own chance. It’s not going to happen. [end] The world as it is – if he made it, [he deserved] make.”
Verstappen was clearly agitated, regularly complaining on team radio that Norris was “dipping” him into corners, a move reminiscent of Verstappen’s own when he was trying to make a move. But criticising the Dutchman for fighting so hard “when he’s had so many wins” is a strange approach.
That doesn’t mean Verstappen is entirely to blame for the crash, nor does it mean he couldn’t improve and become a better driver if he stayed on the right side of the line in a strong defense on Sunday. But there’s something refreshing about the fact that he’s racing in one direction, whether it’s for his first point, his first win or his 62nd.
Norris complained that Verstappen appeared to move in response to his overtaking attempts on several occasions, calling it “just a bit reckless”. Stella then drew attention to Verstappen’s battle with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, and allowing him to do so again on Sunday.
That certainly makes the FIA more worthy of criticism than the driver. Verstappen was simply driving as he was permitted to, and when he crossed the line – resulting in contact that resulted in punctures for both drivers – he was penalised for it.
Does it look familiar? Austrian Grand Prix, 2019. Lorenzo Bellanca/Motorsport Images
His mistake was right there. The rest was him playing to the whistle the way all the best drivers do. A perfect example was in 2019 when Charles Leclerc thought Verstappen should have been penalised, ironically because he had forced him out of the fight for the win at Turn 3 in Austria. But he took the feedback on what the stewards thought was acceptable and raced at Silverstone a week later on par with Verstappen.
The stakes were low then, but it was a thrilling race and set the tone for when the two meet again in the future. This time, it could be repeated.
Norris has not had many chances to win the race but has grown into Verstappen’s closest challenger. He has shown that he can apply pressure consistently, and has beaten the three-time world champion with a stunning lap in Spain, such as his last qualifying attempt.
Verstappen has also had no real rivals since the first half of 2022, and even then it was the opposite trend. Today, McLaren is close to Red Bull. The championship gap is big, but Verstappen knows he still has to take every opportunity given how much the performance gap has narrowed this year.
Despite their friendship, the pair have never had a proper race before this season.
While it is Verstappen who has the machine to fight for victory, Norris is just beginning to enjoy that luxury. As Red Bull drivers begin to challenge Hamilton’s dominance – and there have been plenty of incidents where each has been blamed as the rivals try to figure out how to compete – it is now Norris who has the potential to do the same to Verstappen.
Even if Norris is out of the championship picture this season, the cars are lining up to what could be an epic title race in 2025, and the line drawn this year will have implications for every fight going forward.
Whether the FIA clarifies the racing rules or the championship is deregulated, it will be interesting to see how Verstappen and Norris adapt.
