Dutch media: 'Verstappen and Norris ultimate advertisement for Silverstone'
- Nicole Mulder
The Dutch media was dominated by the collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris the day after the Austrian Grand Prix. No harsh judgment on the Red Bull Racing driver as is the case in the UK: the Dutch press mainly called the crash between the two Formula 1 drivers "inevitable".
Algemeen Dagblad
"You could just wait for it because it had to happen sometime. Two friends fighting for the championship, that's going to go wrong one day," writes the Algemeen Dagblad. "And that happened in Austria after a heated fight that lasted for laps. Deep into the Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, where the Dutchman lost his space lead after three-quarters of the race and saw Norris approach with 15 laps to go. Each time, Norris reported on Verstappen's ass at the top of the Red Bull Ring hill. The first overtake had to be reversed: too wide. The second did not succeed. Neither did the third. And on the fourth attempt, it went all wrong."
"Could the boss of Silverstone still be angry with the 'far too dominant' Max Verstappen because he just can't get his tickets sold? Or did he suddenly run out of stock after the Austrian GP anyway? At the last minute, Verstappen and British crowd favourite Lando Norris drew the ideal promotion for the GP of Great Britain, the third in a triple header and retake of the clash. Grab the popcorn on Sunday, July 7, when Verstappen and Norris meet again on four wheels, both undoubtedly tormented."
De Telegraaf
According to De Telegraaf, as Red Bull team boss Christian Horner also said, there was no escape: "It was inevitable and it happened at the Red Bull Ring. For the first time in their careers, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris collided. Literally, on the track, and - certainly from Norris' point of view - also given their expressions off the tarmac. George Russell (Mercedes) took full advantage."
"Not the clash with Norris, but in particular the course of the race seemed to bother Verstappen more in Austria. He had been dominant at the Red Bull Ring all weekend and he was also supreme at the start of the race, but after that things went from bad to worse," states the Dutch newspaper.
De Volkskrant
"Verstappen tried to fend off several attacks by Norris but clearly had the slower car. Several times the drivers drove each other down the track. On the 64th lap, things went completely wrong: the two cars hit each other, making the battle for the win suddenly impossible," writes De Volkskrant. "And that while Verstappen dominated all weekend."
NOS
"Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are usually good friends, but after the blazing denouement of the Austrian Grand Prix, the Formula 1 drivers of McLaren and Red Bull Racing have some talking to do," writes NOS. "Russell proved to be the smiling third, although the Briton had to pay attention for a while when Piastri seemed to be closing in. However, the race proved just not long enough for the Australian to still outsmart Russell."
This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy