Featured Image Credit: F1/X
Topics: Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing, McLaren
Luke Davies
Topics: Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing, McLaren
Max Verstappen issued a brutal message to Lando Norris following the Red Bull driver’s victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
Verstappen, 27, raced to victory at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, registering his first Grand Prix win of the 2025 season having previously watched the McLaren pairing of Norris, 25, and Oscar Piastri triumph in Melbourne and Shanghai in recent weeks.
The Red Bull driver started in pole position and finished ahead of the chasing back, but he did not go unchallenged as he and Norris clashed as they exited a pit lane.
Advert
“He forced me off,” Norris said via his radio.
While Verstappen told his team: “He drove himself onto the grass.”
The Red Bull driver added: “Also Norris pressed his pit limiter off too early, there’s no way that was legal.”
Advert
McLaren’s team then explained to Norris that there was no action against Verstappen.
But in typical Verstappen fashion, he could not help but aim a comical dig at Norris in the cooldown room after the race.
"That's quite an expensive lawnmower," said Verstappen in reference to Norris finding himself on the grass after the duo clashed.
Norris gave his verdict on the pit lane incident after the race.
Advert
He said: "It's racing, he was ahead, it kind of squeezed into one and Max is the last guy I expect to give me any space, in a good way, in a racing way.
"Nothing more than that."
While Verstappen, who secured his fourth consecutive victory in Japan, was jubilant, he said: "It was tough, just pushing very hard especially on the last set, the two McLarens were pushing very hard.
"It was a lot of fun out there, not easy to manage the tyres but I’m incredibly happy. It started off quite tough but we didn’t give up and we kept improving the car and today it was in its best form. Starting on pole that really made it possible to win this race.
Advert
"It’s important to execute, always try and maximise your performance and I think we did that very well this weekend.”
F1 returns next week as Bahrain plays host to the fourth race of the campaign.