Sky F1 commentator Martin Brundle believes that last Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix saw a Max Verstappen of old resurface, complete with dubious driving tactics and denials.
Verstappen was deemed to have been at fault by the stewards in the collision that involved the Red Bull driver and McLaren’s Lando Norris and which ended both drivers’ winning ambitions at the Red Bull Ring.
The pair were locked in a fierce battle in the closing stages of the race that materialized after Verstappen’s commanding lead vanished in the wake of a costly six-second pit stop.
With Norris snapping at his heels, the race came alive, as did another on-track fight between the McLaren charger and Verstappen, with former lining up his rival several times at the tight, uphill Turn 3 hairpin.
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“Clearly angsty in the cockpit especially after the slow stop, Max was getting ever more aggressive in his defence, really pushing the limits of acceptable driving in close combat with late moves in the braking zones, but just about getting away with it,” commented Brundle in his post-race column for Sky Sports.
"Lando lunged again, this time arriving too fast and locking his front tyres and running wide. It was his fourth track limits violation, and he would get a five-second penalty, which sadly he would never serve.
“Max didn't appear to be aware of this impending penalty for his friend and rival, and when shortly after - on lap 64 - Norris went down the outside of the Red Bull into turn three for a change, Verstappen veered left and there was contact.
“Did he know he was there? He confirmed post-race that he did, he's on top of it all well enough. They touched and it finished Norris's race and left Verstappen limping home for three quarters of a lap with a puncture.
“What I found alarming is that after the contact and as they were both limping along, Verstappen clearly tried to impede and collect Norris if he could.”
The stewards took a dim view to Verstappen’s defensive tactics and hit the Red Bull driver with a 10-second penalty.
This proved inconsequential however as the Dutchman was able to salvage fifth place after bolting on a set of soft tyres with five laps to go and finishing well clear of Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg in sixth position.
But Brundle was clearly unimpressed with Verstappen’s behaviour, both on and off the track.
“In commentary, and in these columns, I've waxed lyrical about Max's talent, and I stand by that, he's one of the very best I've ever witnessed in 40 years,” added the former F1 driver.
“I've also said that he's calmed down, matured, and plays more the percentage game with three championships in his pocket.
“But that appears to have been a thin veneer as this race was very much Max 1.0, with his default driving tactics and denials resurfacing.”
©RedBull
Brundle also took aim at Red Bull for malevolently laying the blame for the collision on Norris.
“To hear the Red Bull team on the radio after the race telling him it was all Norris's fault was a difficult listen, it damages their credibility all round,” he said.
“It was clear Norris would get a five-second penalty for track limits and the whole thing was totally unnecessary for Red Bull.
“It must also be said that Lando's race craft was rather gung-ho. He'll need more finesse, patience, and cunning than that if he wants to start beating Max regularly to win a championship.”
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