With McLaren’s resurgence and constant fight for the podium, cracks have begun to appear in Red Bull’s dynasty. This newfound competitiveness led to a dramatic clash between Verstappen and Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix, which appeared to have tested their friendship off the track.
The incident occurred on lap 64 when race leader Verstappen refused to back down at the hairpin as Norris chased down the outside. As Verstappen aggressively defended, Norris lunged beyond track limits, although he was never able to serve his five-second penalty. The contact resulted in punctures for both drivers, forcing Norris to retire from the race and Verstappen to finish fifth after a pit stop.