McLaren boss Zak Brown turns fire on Horner after Norris U-turn

Norris retracted his demand for an apology from the Dutch triple champion on Thursday following a costly collision at the Austrian Grand Prix where they were both vying for the lead.

Verstappen, known for his aggressive driving style, expressed the importance of his friendship with Norris and his desire to maintain it.

Some interpreted Norris' actions as giving Verstappen a psychological edge by diffusing the tension rather than keeping the pressure on.

The two drivers have consistently finished first and second in five of the last seven races, with Verstappen claiming victory seven times out of 11 and Norris once.

Brown stated, "I believe there is a distinction between a racing driver's behavior when the helmet is on and the visor is down, and how they act from Monday to Thursday in their relationships and communication."

Brown characterized the duel between the two as 'legendary' and mentioned that Verstappen, like any exceptional driver or top designer, would naturally test the boundaries of the rules until being reprimanded.

The American, who reiterated his plea for permanent stewards, did not absolve Horner of any responsibility.

On Sunday, the Red Bull team principal informed Verstappen over the radio that Norris had not acted appropriately.

However, stewards viewed the incident differently, attributing the collision to Verstappen and penalizing him with a 10-second penalty and two penalty points.

Brown expressed his disappointment with Red Bull's leadership, stating that it almost encourages such behavior, as evidenced by the radio communication.

He emphasized the importance of respecting regulations and guiding drivers on the right path, whether it pertains to financial regulations or on-track conduct.

Brown suggested that addressing the issue earlier could have prevented the incident from occurring.

In 2022, Red Bull was fined $7 million for breaching the cost cap in 2021, and this year Horner has had disagreements with Verstappen's father Jos and faced allegations of misconduct from a female employee, which he denied and was subsequently cleared of after an investigation.

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