Max Verstappen isn’t holding any grudges after Lando Norris suggested luck played a part in his dramatic win at Interlagos.
Starting way back in 17th place, Verstappen pulled off an incredible drive to claim victory – though a timely red flag caused by Franco Colapinto definitely helped his cause.
Norris, who finished sixth, wasn’t too happy about it right after the race. He pointed out that Verstappen hadn’t even made his pit stop when the red flag came out.
But Verstappen gets it. “You’ve got these interviews right after racing when your head’s still spinning,” he told Viaplay. “Lando had just taken a mental hit – one moment he could’ve grabbed the championship himself, and then it all turned around.”
The four-time world champ knows exactly how intense those post-race moments can be.
“When you’re still running on adrenaline and someone sticks a camera in your face, you’re probably not going to give your most thoughtful answer,” he said.
“I know Lando – he’s a good guy. He was just really disappointed with himself at that moment. Sometimes you wish they’d wait a bit before shoving a microphone at you.”
Their friendship is still rock solid, according to Verstappen.
“We’re totally good,” he said. “All the battles on track haven’t changed anything between us. We still hang out – I was actually just talking to him on the phone yesterday.”
For Verstappen, it’s just part of the sport. “That’s how it goes in F1. Once the helmet comes off, you’re either over the moon or frustrated with how things went. And yeah, sometimes stuff just comes out in the heat of the moment.”
