McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has highlighted Max Verstappen’s aggressive driving style as the key factor behind a collision with Lando Norris during the Austrian Grand Prix. The incident, which occurred at the Red Bull Ring, led to punctures for both drivers and ultimately altered the course of the race.
The accident saw George Russell benefit significantly, as he inherited the lead and clinched victory. In the aftermath, the sport’s stewards deemed Verstappen solely responsible for the clash, issuing a 10-second penalty to the Red Bull driver. However, Stella believes the penalty was insufficient and has called for a reassessment of racing regulations by the FIA.
"The entire population of the world knows who was responsible except for a group of people," Stella remarked, expressing his frustration at what he perceives as leniency towards Verstappen's driving conduct. He pointed out that similar incidents in the past, particularly during Verstappen’s intense title battle with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, were not adequately addressed, leading to recurring problems.
Stella's concerns extend beyond the immediate race. He voiced a broader critique of the current enforcement of racing rules. "If you don't address these things honestly, they will come back. They weren't addressed properly in the past when there were fights with Lewis that needed to be punished in a harsher way," he stated, emphasizing the need for the FIA to take more stringent actions.
According to Stella, the incident with Norris was not an isolated example of Verstappen’s aggressive maneuvers on the track. "Before this episode, twice he moved in braking. It is evident that we have to enforce the way to go racing," he noted, underscoring the necessity of clear and enforced boundaries.
The Need for Stricter Regulations
Stella views the collision as part of a broader issue that afflicts the sport. He stressed the importance of regulating competition to prevent accidents and ensure fair racing. "In every kind of human dynamics, if you don't address things, as soon as you introduce competition, as soon as you introduce a sense of injustice, these things escalate. It's like anything," he explained.
He expressed his belief that the current situation is a result of unresolved issues from previous seasons. "Here there was an incomplete job, let's say, that comes from the past, and is a legacy that as soon as there was a trigger, immediately there is an outburst." Stella suggested that this recent incident should serve as an opportunity for the FIA to tighten and strengthen existing rules, preventing future occurrences of similar nature.
"So I think this one, like I said before, this episode today should be taken as an opportunity to tighten up, to plump up the boundaries, and in fairness, enforcing some of the rules that are already in place," Stella asserted. He stressed the importance of the rules being clear and robust enough to deter recurrent misconduct. "But we need to be very clear that these rules cannot be abused in a way that then leaves a margin to do a couple of times the same manoeuvre, and you know the third time there is going to be an accident."
Immediate and Long-term Consequences
The incident had significant repercussions for McLaren and Norris, causing them to lose valuable points and a potential victory. "For us, there's a lot of points gone. And a victory which I think Lando deserved to have the opportunity to have," Stella lamented. The team's principal's comments reflect a broader frustration with the current state of affairs in Formula 1, where aggressive driving and insufficient penalties can hinder fair competition.
While acknowledging the inherent risks of racing, Stella called for a style of racing that avoids unnecessary collisions. "It could have been Max, it could have been Lando. That's racing. But racing like with collisions, we don't like it," he concluded.
Stella's remarks resonate with a wider debate within the sport about the balance between competitive racing and the enforcement of safety and fairness. As the FIA considers these comments, the hope is that future races will see stricter adherence to regulations, ensuring that drivers can compete fiercely but fairly, and that incidents like the one at the Red Bull Ring become less frequent.