F1 Today | Norris 'cannot stop' Verstappen, Brown clashes with F1 champion
F1 News
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen's controversial United States Grand Prix incident is still the talk of the town! F1 veteran, former Sky Sports F1 pundit and current steward Johnny Herbert has provided his view on the decisive moment. McLaren CEO Zak Brown clashed on social media with 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill, too! In other news, Yuki Tsunoda looks to be finally nearing a Red Bull opportunity in 2024.
Herbert: 'Norris is not quite aware of what's needed to stop Verstappen'
Former F1 driver and current steward Johnny Herbert has explained why he believes Max Verstappen is more of a complete driver than Lando Norris. The Brit believes that the 24-year-old is 'too nice' to his championship rival, who he now trails by 57 points after losing six to Verstappen throughout the United States Grand Prix weekend. Herbert believes that Verstappen intimidates his rival, causing him to make rash decisions.
In conversation with Genting Casinos, Herbert said: "Max very well is a threat, and this is something that is very, very powerful, and it's something that Max has done ever since he came into Formula One, and maybe we haven't quite seen that from Lando, it's intimidation. The intimidation that you put on someone because when you go into Turn 1, Lando knew it was Max, and when you know it, Max, the intimidation is, I've got to be in the right place at the right point. It's almost like a mini panic." Herbert said. You can read the steward's full perspective by clicking HERE.
Zak Brown clashes with Damon Hill over the US GP incident:
Continuing on with the theme of Verstappen and Norris, McLaren's CEO Zak Brown clashed with 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill over social media platform X regarding the incident. On X, Hill clearly disagreed with Norris' penalty. Hill believed that Verstappen should've left Norris more space, suggesting that the penalty wasn't his fault. "I'm not convinced the stewarding was consistent in that race. But Lando went deep to pass and did so off track. That said, Max did not give him room on the exit and barged him off the track in turn 1, lap 1. The rules need to be better." Hill said.
Brown, who also disagreed with the penalty, immediately responded: "Damon I'm convinced it's not!". Hill immediately clapped back at the American: "Yeah, but you're necessarily biased. Even if you're not!"
Tsunoda nearing a 2024 Red Bull chance:
In other news, Yuki Tsunoda may finally be granted his first Red Bull Formula 1 opportunity. Tsunoda has yet to drive a Red Bull despite his close ties to the brand. Par show runs in older equipment, the 24-year-old hasn't been given a chance to prove himself with VCARB's parent team. Tsunoda has had a solid season in 2024 and has scored 22 points so far. Tsunoda's chance could come at Pirelli's tyre test for the 2025 season. The running starts the Tuesday after the final Grand Prix of the season at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull's chief advisor, told motorsport.com: "We have some plans for Abu Dhabi, yes. But we have various drivers, you know. We have [Isack] Hadjar, for example, and now we have Liam [Lawson]." Therefore, Tsunoda's opportunity is not set in stone.
Sergio Perez's Red Bull seat is by no means safe. This season, Max Verstappen has scored 354 points, whereas Perez has scored just 150. Although the Mexican Red Bull contract sees him through to the end of 2025, with the Austrians having the option to extend him with an additional year, his position is by no means concrete. Liam Lawson could well be Perez's successor, but Tsunoda himself has done and continues to do all he can to put himself in the spotlight.
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