Norris expects to crash more with Verstappen

Following their fierce battle at the Austrian Grand Prix which ended in a race-deciding crash, McLaren driver Lando Norris expects to 'crash more' with reigning champion Max Verstappen.

Having dominated the early stages of the Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull made a mistake at Verstappen’s second pit stop which allowed Lando Norris to close is on the Dutchman to challenge him for the victory.

Following multiple attempts, the pair came together which saw Norris retire with damage to his MCL38 while Verstappen came home outside the podium.

In the meantime, McLaren has established itself as the fastest team currently which has prompted Norris to state that he expects to “crash more” with the reigning champion as they challenge each other at the front of the F1 field.

“I expect to crash more in the future with different people, with Max," Norris noted.

While Norris clarified that it's not about expecting crashes but that “those scenarios and circumstances always happen” in F1, especially with "another five or 10 years" in the sport.

Norris and Verstappen have established a close relationship in recent years with both drivers having been a fan of simulator racing. Moreover, the Briton often flies home on the Dutchman's plane from European races.

“What I do out there [outside of F1] is a different world. It's a different life. It's a different mentality. I couldn't care less if I played padel with someone last week or went out for dinner with someone. It doesn't change what I want to do on track, which is to win.”

“How I act and the people I’m with away from the track couldn’t be any further apart from my mentality of being a racing driver and being inside the car," Norris concluded.