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Friendship of Norris and Verstappen under pressure due to rivalry?
- Estéban den Toom
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris are two good friends off the track. During the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, there was quite a fight between the two on track. Discussion soon arose as to whether on-track fights would affect their off-track friendship. F2 driver Clement Novalak talked about this in the Track Limits podcast.
"I think they (Verstappen and Norris, ed.) are two very different characters, so it is very interesting how they are friends now and, if it develops into a full championship fight, how that can change," the 23-year-old French-Swiss driver explained in the podcast. Verstappen is at one in the World Cup standings. Norris follows 78 points away from the Dutchman, with the Englishman on P2.
Mercedes' example
"About 10 years ago there were two very good friends on the grid [Lewis Hamilton & Nico Rosberg], and we saw how that changed. So we'll see," Novalak continued. "I like rivalry, so if it turns into that, that would be very cool to see. But at the same time, of course, they are good friends, so you don't wish it."
Between 2014 and 2016, Rosberg and Hamilton fought for the drivers' title. Mercedes' car was too strong for the competition, so fierce battles ensued to gain the most points. For example, at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, Rosberg and Hamilton collided and both went off, allowing Verstappen to win.
This article has been written in collaboration with Ben Stevens.