Insisting that he doesn't "give a s**t" about outcry following Austrian clash, Max Verstappen admits that he doesn't want to compromise his relationship with Lando Norris.

While Norris has admitted that he has spoken to the Dutchman twice since last Sunday's incident, and no longer seeks an apology, Max Verstappen insists that he doesn't care about the ongoing media frenzy and only wants to maintain his good relationship with the McLaren driver.

Asked about the media outcry in the wake of the incident, and claims, like that of Andrea Stella, that the sport's powers that be have been to lenient with him over the years, the three time world champion said: "I don't give a shit about that!

"I go home, I live my life, and the only thing that I care about is just my relationship to Lando," he added.

Confirming that the pair have spoken since Sunday's incident, he said: "We came to the conclusion that we actually really enjoyed our battle. We looked at the incident, and it was such a silly little touch that had, of course, great consequence for both of us.

"But we like to race hard," he continued. "We've done this for many years, not only in Formula 1, even like online racing, where we had a lot of fun together. These things have to carry on, because that's what we like to do. And I think it's great for Formula 1 as well.

"We agree with 99% of everything," he said of the Briton. "And naturally, I always said to Lando, when you go for moves at the inside, the outside, you can trust me that I'm not there to try and crash you out of the way. It is the same the other way around, because we spoke about that as well.

"Naturally, there's always a human reaction when someone dives on the inside or outside, that you have a bit of a reaction to it. But I felt everything that I did was nothing massively over the top.

"Of course, like how you design the car, you try to go to the edge of the rules," he admitted. "Maybe you find some grey areas here and there like with the car, and that's the same how you race, because otherwise you will never be a top driver and you will never succeed in life anyway."

Asked about his calls on the radio during the race, in which he claimed the McLaren driver was "dive-bombing" him, he admitted to a worryingly increasing trend amongst drivers and their teams.

"You always speak for your own advantage," he said. "That's what he did. That's what I did. We all understand that."

Asked how he and Norris will approach their racing from here on in, he smiled: "We go at it flat out. That's what we agreed to, because that's what we like to do.

"That's what's good for Formula 1 as well," he grinned.

Indeed it is guys, indeed it is.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 06/07/2024 2:59

"Sky continue to try and ramp up continueing controversy around the Verstappen/Norris brouhaha from Austria. Add to that the monotonous 'four Brits on the grid' and the quality of comment sinks to a new low. They are now claiming that Albon is a Brit despite him racing on a Thai license. Jenson Button's summary was simply the most accurate...'it was a racing incident'. Nothing more and nothing less."

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 05/07/2024 7:24

"The dead hand of the PR machine...."

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3. Posted by kenji, 05/07/2024 2:30

"Some sanity at last, despite the British media trying to exploit the situation! I said earlier that it was a 50/50 split and that seems to have been the basic outcome from the latest discussions between drivers. So, no more pouting Lando. Just get into the mix and fight your corner like you're paid to. If it doesn't always work out then you clearly have to find alternate ways that do."

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4. Posted by Team Hack, 04/07/2024 18:40

"Lets face it,we rightly applaud Arnoux/Villeneuve so what is the difference now with Max/Lando?

As Mario once said about a similar situation 'just a couple of young lions clawing each other'

Enough said."

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5. Posted by Wokingchap, 04/07/2024 18:30

"I'm happy to read this and know Max feels this way towards Lando, excellent, and that it's reciprocal.
I also remember what went down with Nico and Lewis.... hope it doesn't take that route."

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Only thing I care about is my relationship to Lando, says Verstappen

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