The Austrian Grand Prix was a rather uneventful event, until the second round of pit stops. During this crucial moment, Red Bull Racing made a rare mistake by delaying Verstappen’s pit stop due to a stubborn left rear tire that refused to be changed on car #1 RB20. Consequently, Verstappen’s seven-second advantage over Norris, who also pitted on the same lap, disappeared. Verstappen found himself at a disadvantage as he received a used set of medium tires, while Norris had new tires.
What followed were some thrilling laps of intense racing, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Unfortunately, the excitement came to an abrupt end when Verstappen and Norris made contact, causing Norris to retire with a damaged car. Verstappen, in turn, dropped to fifth place and received a ten-second time penalty for being deemed at fault in the incident.
Despite this, Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, defended his lead driver, stating that Verstappen did nothing wrong. He expressed his opinion to the press, including GrandPrix247, saying, “The collision between them was inevitable considering how close they have been in recent races. It’s a shame that Lando already had four infractions and would probably receive a five-second penalty anyway. I believe it was a racing incident, and I find it unfair that Max received a ten-second penalty. Fortunately, it didn’t significantly affect his race, but his chances were already compromised by the puncture he suffered.”
Horner also emphasized Verstappen’s reputation as a fierce competitor, stating: “Max is known for his aggressive driving style, and his rivals are well aware of that.” When asked about Norris’ complaints regarding Verstappen’s braking moves, Horner suggested that Norris may have been trying to recover from an earlier incident in the Sprint Race. He explained: “Max overtook him without the help of DRS at Turn 4, and then he was overtaken by his teammate. There may have been some lingering frustration from that. It’s a shame because we had everything under control today, and Lando’s last pit stop put him back in the mix. With the advantage of fresher tires, he managed to stay within the DRS zone.”
Overall, Horner expressed his disappointment with the result but highlighted that Red Bull Racing still managed to score valuable points in the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. He noted: “We gained 10 points in the drivers’ championship and 16 in the constructors’, while McLaren only gained two points compared to us.”
In response to the question of whether the unfortunate Red Bull pit stop triggered the subsequent chain of events, Horner stated: “The early part of the race was progressing favorably as we managed to establish a six-second advantage in the first stint using the medium tires, and we had everything under control.
“However, due to cloud cover causing slightly lower temperatures, the hard tires became less preferable. Despite this, we still managed to build an eight-second lead at a certain point. After navigating through traffic, the gap had reduced to approximately 6.5 seconds. We then made our pit stop on the same lap as McLaren, but we encountered an issue with the left rear nut, resulting in a 6-second delay. Consequently, we lost 4 seconds.
“This allowed Lando to have a new set of medium tires, while Max had to settle for a used set. Lando gained an advantage with the new tires, and if they had started with a 6-second difference, he probably would have reduced the gap. However, we still had enough to manage the situation in the final laps, with the difference being only two tenths of a second.
“When asked if Verstappen had a chance to defend against Norris with his used tires, Horner promptly responded with a firm ‘no’.
“I believe this is due to the difference in tire conditions. In the first and second parts of the race, we were completely fine, especially at the end of each part. Lando managed to benefit from the slipstream and made a move on the inside of Max, causing him to go off track. That was his fourth offense, which led to an investigation by the stewards, and it was highly likely that he would receive a penalty. I believe he was aware of that.
“Regarding the incident at Turn 3, upon reviewing the replay, it seemed to me that it was a case of both drivers racing aggressively,” Horner reiterated.
Verstappen had some luck, as Norris didn’t score any points, and Charles Leclerc, another potential contender for the Champion title, also finished outside the points after a disappointing weekend in Austria. Verstappen still maintains an 81-point advantage over Norris.
(Reported by Agnes Carlier from Spielberg)
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Football is a sport that captivates millions of fans around the world. With its passion and excitement, football has the power to bring people from different cultures and backgrounds together. And it’s no different in Brazil, where football is a true national passion.
In the last game of the championship, Flamengo’s team showed all their talent and determination by defeating rival Corinthians 3-1. With goals from Gabriel Barbosa, Bruno Henrique, and Arrascaeta, Flamengo dominated the match and achieved an important victory for their campaign in the championship.
With this win, Flamengo remains in the lead of the championship and is getting closer and closer to the title. The team has shown an engaging and offensive style of play, with quick and precise plays. Coach Jorge Jesus has been crucial to the team’s success with his aggressive and motivating tactics.
In addition, Flamengo’s players have stood out individually. Gabriel Barbosa, known as Gabigol, has been the team’s top scorer and one of the main highlights of the championship. Bruno Henrique has also stood out with his skill and speed on the field. And Arrascaeta, with his game vision and precise passes, has been fundamental in creating dangerous plays.
With a talented squad and a competent coach, Flamengo has everything to conquer the championship title and make history. The red-black fans are confident and excited about the team’s performance and can’t wait to celebrate another achievement.
Flamengo’s next game will be against Santos, in a direct confrontation for the championship lead. It will be an exciting and decisive match, promising a lot of emotion and adrenaline for the fans. The expectation is that Flamengo maintains their good performance and achieves another important victory.
In the world of football, anything can happen. But one thing is certain: Flamengo is determined to conquer the title and make history. And with the support of their passionate fans, the team has everything to achieve this goal.
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