Christian Horner claims Max Verstappen to get ‘reasonable reception’ from fans at Lando Norris’ home race at Silverstone

The 2024 Formula 1 season heads towards its next destination at Silverstone, for the British GP. It is the home race for Lando Norris. Christian Horner said there’s a high chance of Max Verstappen getting booed at the British GP from local fans.

Christian Horner said it’s unlikely Max Verstappen would face hostility from fans at the British GP this week. He believed that the crowd will naturally support British drivers, just as fans support Verstappen in his home country of Holland. Horner highlighted that despite the biased atmosphere, there is generally mutual respect among fans for all drivers when they race at different tracks.

I'm sure it's going to be a partisan crowd for the British drivers as it is for Max in Holland, but I think whenever we go to those tracks there is always respect for the other drivers.

Christian Horner told Sky Sports F1

Further, Horner expressed his hope that Max Verstappen receives a positive reaction at the upcoming race. He expected to see a lot of orange in the crowd, although not all fans may be Red Bull supporters, some might be cheering for McLaren instead. The 50-year-old believed that whatever happens, Verstappen will stay focused and determined on winning. Christian Horner remains confident that the Dutchman will race with the same intensity and commitment as always, regardless of the crowd’s reaction.

I hope Max gets a reasonable reception and I'm sure it's going to be all orange again this weekend - perhaps not Max Verstappen fans, more McLaren fans. That'll be water off a duck's back to him, he'll have his head down and he won't change. He's the racer he is and I'm sure he'll race just as hard this weekend.

Christian Horner stated

Christian Horner believes Verstappen and Norris’s racing rivalry will inevitably spill over due to racing

Christian Horner expected that there will be more intense racing between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. He explained this is because both car’s competitive balance are close enough because both McLaren and Red Bull are fast at speed. He anticipated thrilling and exciting competition between both the drivers on the track in upcoming races. This might continue until the end to fight for the world championship title.

Inevitably, there is going to be more close racing between the two of them as the cars look so close over the forthcoming races.

Christian Horner explained

Christian Horner observed that the rivalry between Verstappen and Norris intensified over several races. They had been racing closely and competitively in recent races. One of them was the Austrian GP where they had a crash at turn 3, which disrupted the race for both of them. Horner believed their competitive spirit and close racing will continue to create such moments of excitement and tension in upcoming races.

The conflict between the two of them has been building over two, three, four races where they've been racing each other closely and hard, and at some point that was always going to spill over - and it did at Turn 3.

Christian Horner added

Certainly, Christian Horner believed the Austrian GP was just one race of Norris and Verstappen’s close battle and there’s more to come. This kinds of battles build excitement in fans and hype the crowd up and the drivers too. Both drivers are expected to continue their competitive fight in the upcoming British GP.

In case you missed it:

• Red Bull needs Max Verstappen more than he needs Milton Keynes
• Adrian Newey claims ‘great lads’ Max Verstappen and Lando Norris will ‘sort out’ tensions over Austrian GP clash

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