Exclusive: Verstappen’s Norris approach strongly defended by F1 icon
Max Verstappen has been strongly defended by F1 icon Mario Andretti
over his aggressive driving style, in an exclusive interview.
Verstappen drew criticism from many in F1, and 20 seconds worth of
time penalties for his on-track conduct when racing title rival
Lando Norris in the recent Mexico City Grand Prix, with the Red
Bull driver forcing Norris off the track twice in a matter of
seconds. The Dutchman was unapologetic afterwards, defending his
approach in Brazil, where a stunning victory from 17th on the grid
was enough to move him to the cusp of a fourth world championship,
which can be secured in Las Vegas this weekend. To do so,
Verstappen must finish ahead of Norris or hope the Briton scores
fewer than three points, with the gap currently 62 with 60 left on
the board after the second Las Vegas GP. Reflecting on
Verstappen’s driving style, Andretti defended his fellow world
champion’s approach. “I don’t call it a flaw in any way,” 1978
champion Andretti exclusively tells RacingNews365 when asked if
Verstappen’s aggressive driving style was a flaw. “If you are not
aggressive, you are not going to be world champion to begin with,
but sometimes you can overdo things, we are all human. “He knows
that, so it is not like he would continue to do things that maybe
he shouldn’t, but he is aware of a couple of places, like Austin
where he probably could have been a little bit not as right on, but
that is good. “To me, that is what racing is all about and I like
to see that type of energy going into it from a driver. “If you are
aggressive and do really stupid things over and over, that is one
thing, but this is not the case at all. “He is very calculated and
sometimes if the car is not really doing the things he wanted at
the time, you can become frustrated, which is the way it should be,
and maybe you overdo things. “But its not enough to fault anyone, I
like to see that in a driver, if I own the team and he is driving
for me, I would say: ‘Atta Boy.”
over his aggressive driving style, in an exclusive interview.
Verstappen drew criticism from many in F1, and 20 seconds worth of
time penalties for his on-track conduct when racing title rival
Lando Norris in the recent Mexico City Grand Prix, with the Red
Bull driver forcing Norris off the track twice in a matter of
seconds. The Dutchman was unapologetic afterwards, defending his
approach in Brazil, where a stunning victory from 17th on the grid
was enough to move him to the cusp of a fourth world championship,
which can be secured in Las Vegas this weekend. To do so,
Verstappen must finish ahead of Norris or hope the Briton scores
fewer than three points, with the gap currently 62 with 60 left on
the board after the second Las Vegas GP. Reflecting on
Verstappen’s driving style, Andretti defended his fellow world
champion’s approach. “I don’t call it a flaw in any way,” 1978
champion Andretti exclusively tells RacingNews365 when asked if
Verstappen’s aggressive driving style was a flaw. “If you are not
aggressive, you are not going to be world champion to begin with,
but sometimes you can overdo things, we are all human. “He knows
that, so it is not like he would continue to do things that maybe
he shouldn’t, but he is aware of a couple of places, like Austin
where he probably could have been a little bit not as right on, but
that is good. “To me, that is what racing is all about and I like
to see that type of energy going into it from a driver. “If you are
aggressive and do really stupid things over and over, that is one
thing, but this is not the case at all. “He is very calculated and
sometimes if the car is not really doing the things he wanted at
the time, you can become frustrated, which is the way it should be,
and maybe you overdo things. “But its not enough to fault anyone, I
like to see that in a driver, if I own the team and he is driving
for me, I would say: ‘Atta Boy.”
Jake Nichol
Go to seatrade maritime