“Just driving people off the road,” Max Verstappen vents on team radio over Red Bull’s Lando Norris request at Hungarian GP

Max Verstappen had set his sights to claim his third consecutive Hungarian GP victory.

“Just driving people off the road,” Max Verstappen vents on team radio over Red Bull’s Lando Norris request at Hungarian GP

Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

Heading into the Hungarian GP weekend, fans expected the fight to be between Red Bull and McLaren. This expectation followed suit as the English team locked out the front row, but Max Verstappen lurked in the background waiting to pounce. Subsequently, during the race start, the Dutchman made a move off-track for second place, this led his team to suggest him let Lando Norris back past, which infuriated the reigning champion.

A rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris has been brewing within the paddock ever since their clash in Austria. This led to the pair going elbows out at each other ever since as the championship is seemingly on line. On the other hand, during the race start in Hungary, the top three were side-by-side heading into the first turn, which consequently left no space for Verstappen around the outside.

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Reckoning that he was forced off, the Dutchman overtook Lando Norris off the track, which urged FIA to investigate the issue. Subsequently, it warranted Red Bull to injunct the 26-year-old to let the Englishman back through.

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OK, so you can just run people off the track then? You can tell the FIA that's how we're going to race from now onwards, just driving people off the road.
Max Verstappen said over the radio

After letting Norris back past, Verstappen expressed his frustration over the radio. The triple champion claimed that if drivers could run others off track without any repercussions, then he would replicate the same. However, this anger-charged message was held against him by many fans as they complained about his driving in multiple instances.

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Throttle woes for McLaren could help Max Verstappen

While McLaren looks to be in the prime position for the win, however, their troubles are not over just yet. During the Reconnaissance lap, Norris expressed problems with his throttle which could halt his progress.

McLaren's Lando Norris and Red Bull's Max Verstappen
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)

The 24-year-old admitted that his throttle pedal was not behaving normally.

Just confirming, something's definitely not right with the throttle.
Lando Norris said over the radio

On the contrary, fearing a repeat of previous weekends, McLaren hastily fixed the Brit’s pedals. However, a quick solution might come to bite them as Verstappen would be waiting to snatch away the runners-up spot if Norris’ woes return.

As it stands, Verstappen is under threat from Lewis Hamilton as questionable strategic calls have plummeted him down the field. Thus, a McLaren 1-2 seems to be on the cards as Oscar Piastri leads the Hungarian GP.

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