Featured Image Credit: F1 / Getty
Topics: Lando Norris, Formula 1, McLaren, Max Verstappen
Ryan Smart
Formula 1 fans have spotted Lando Norris' Instagram activity in the aftermath of Max Verstappen's win at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Verstappen won the race from 17th on the grid, having made up seven positions in the opening laps before rising as high as sixth before the end of the first stint in wet conditions.
But while those drivers in front of him - except for Esteban Ocon - pitted for fresh tyres, Verstappen stayed out and was in second at the time the red flag was waved for Franco Colapinto's crash.
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Red Bull were therefore able to change tyres and send Verstappen back out in second, and he later overtook Ocon before producing a commanding drive to the chequered flag.
After the race, Norris spoke about the red flag that allowed Red Bull to gain an advantage by avoiding the time loss incurred by a pitstop.
He said: "That's life sometimes. You take a gamble [waiting for a red flag for a free pitstop]. It's paid off for them. It's not talent, it's just luck."
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While those words were solely directed at the red flag stoppage rather than Verstappen himself, some fans misinterpreted Norris' comments as a dig at Verstappen's victory (he did in fact praise the Red Bull driver and congratulate him on Instagram).
As a result, fans took to the McLaren driver's Instagram to mock the Brit and, in some cases, post abusive messages after he finished sixth in Interlagos.
At the time of writing, his most recent post - uploaded after the Mexican Grand Prix last week - totalled over 14,000 comments, with a significant number of those being from accounts claiming to be fans of Verstappen.
But two comments in particular were picked out by fans on Reddit - because Norris had 'liked' them.
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One of the comments was defending Norris, with the Instagram user writing: "He said he was lucky with the VSC and red flag while he was unlucky. Conveniently forget that he praised Max and his race win, or that he's liking all of Max's celebratory posts.
"He has always said SC or red flags are lucky, and he has said he was also lucky to win in Miami [when Norris benefitted from a mid-race safety car]."
But the other comment called Norris, who has won three races this season, a 'shameful amateur', and added: "You've been humiliated today worse than any driver I've ever seen."
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That comment appears to no longer be visible on Norris' feed, with the account in question being changed to private.
Verstappen now leads Norris by 63 points in the Drivers' Championship standings, and with just three Grands Prix left in the 2024 season and 86 points available, looks set to win his fourth consecutive title.