McLaren doesn’t want to see ‘another 2021′ rivalry after Max Verstappen and Lando Norris’ Austrian GP clash

The Austrian GP was an event full of rollercoasters. Lando Norris made significant gains on Max Verstappen in the dying stages, but the intense battle ended with a collision between the two. Observing the similarities between how the current season is being played out and of the titanic 2021 season, McLaren team principal, Andrea Stella has claimed that he does not want to see a repeat of that year.

The 2021 season was known for its epic title battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The fight remained clean for the most part and the two drivers had respect for each other. However, a breaking point emerged at the British GP when the Brit took out Verstappen. This laid the basis for subsequent collisions and near misses, in which the Dutchman played a similar role.

A glimpse of a similar rivalry developing in the paddock was seen as Lando Norris and the reigning champion were fighting for every bit of tarmac in Speilberg. However, this ultimately ended with the Englishman DNFing out of the race.

We don't want to see another 2021. I thought that was not a good point in Formula 1 racing. It might have been entertaining, but not for good reasons.

Andrea Stella said in an interview with Autosport

Subsequently, McLaren supremo, Andrea Stella was unhappy with the fight brewing between the two drivers. He then asserted that a repeat of 2021 should not happen again. He admitted that fans found the fight entertaining, but it was for completely wrong reasons, as elbows were out from both sides and rules were ignored.

McLaren demands for better implementation of rules

The collision between Verstappen and Norris ended with the McLaren driver out of the race. On the contrary, the Dutchman was able to carry on after a pitstop and brought home 11 points for the Austrian team.

This stark contrast in fortunes was not appreciated in the paddock. FIA was quick to give the 26-year-old a 10-second penalty for his antics but this did not result in limiting Verstappen’s progress.

It should be taken as an opportunity to tighten up, to clamp up the boundaries and, in fairness, enforcing some of the rules which are already in place. We need to be very clear that these rules cannot be abused in a way that then it leaves margin to do a couple of times the same manoeuvre and the third time there's going be an accident. Even statistically, there's going to be an accident.

Andrea Stella said in an interview with Autosport

Stella was upset with the way the incident was dealt with and thus, he urged for better implementation of the rule books. The Italian claimed that the rules were already in place and a fear should be developed in driver’s minds to prevent them from crossing the line.

However, Norris was constantly divebombing Verstappen to overtake him, which multiple experts reckoned to be dicey. Thus, both drivers had a role in their incident, but the balance remained in Verstappen’s favor as he was held responsible for the crash.

In case you missed it:

• Lewis Hamilton claims George Russell’s Austrian GP victory a “well deserved reward” for Mercedes
• “My whole car is destroyed,” Lando Norris claims Max Verstappen has ‘disadvantaged’ McLaren for British GP following Speilberg crash

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