A hot topic of conversation as Formula 1 moves to the British Grand Prix weekend is the on-track collision that occurred between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in Austria.
Nico Hulkenberg, a driver with Haas in Formula 1, has charged that the stewards overreacted to on-track drama during the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend.
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris were fighting for the lead when they got into a late-race collision at the race at the Red Bull Ring last weekend.
Verstappen was given two penalty points and a 10-second time penalty by the referees after they found that the Dutchman was responsible for the incident.
Hulkenberg has asserted that Verstappen’s punishment was not warranted.
Hulkenberg said to the reporters, including RacingNews365, “It was racing for me.” It was the tiniest of touches, almost nonexistent. It’s unlikely that you could have less interaction.
“It was evidently quite severe as both rims were broken by the impact. However, you typically get away with that kind of behavior.
“It seemed overly dramatic and buffed up, and it was just racing to me.”
Frankly, I didn’t feel like Max was accomplishing much. We need to allow a space between cars, which I believe he did. He was basically traveling in a straight path. Instead of a wall, there was still a kerb on the left.
“I believe the stewards were pretty involved last weekend.”
Racing F1 drivers differently is something Hulkenberg acknowledges.
The principal of the McLaren team, Andrea Stella, hypothesized that Verstappen’s aggressive driving in Austria stemmed from his 2021 championship matchup with Lewis Hamilton.
Hulkenberg said, “Yes,” in response to the question of whether drivers are aware that they race certain of their colleagues differently than others. You’re accurate.
“You just need to be conscious of that fact and know that you should factor that kind of thing into your calculations or strategy.”
Hulkenberg, though, feels that the officials interfered too much with the racing last weekend at the Red Bull Ring.
He claimed that “the stewards got very involved and were very active handing out time penalties and stuff.”
“I think there was a little bit of overreacting on some occasions.”
