Norris ‘enjoying’ vicious Verstappen-Russell spat

Lando Norris has highlighted he is enjoying the public squabble that is ongoing between Max Verstappen and George Russell.

Last week in Qatar, Verstappen took issue with Russell as he claimed the Mercedes driver aggressively lobbied for Verstappen to be handed a grid penalty for the race following an incident in qualifying.

Verstappen asserted he lost all respect for Russell amid the discussions, with Russell shining further light on the hostility of the situation in Abu Dhabi.

Norris suggested Russell's push for a penalty, which allowed him to gain pole position on Sunday, is a result of Mercedes having more to gain.

“I do know a lot of the details of what was said and what happened, but that's for them to squabble and argue about,” Norris told media including RacingNews365.

“You have the two sides. You have the side of we're paid to come here, to race and to perform well for our team.

“In some ways, no matter what cost you want to win and you want to give yourself the best opportunity. For George, that was by saying what he said and doing what he did.

“At times between drivers, you have that amount of respect when something happens you're like ‘that's racing’ and you don't want either of them to get a penalty, because it's racing.

“Mercedes is not fighting for a championship or anything like that so they're clinging on to a bit more than what Max is.

“They’re going to do at all costs what it takes to try and get a pole or try and get a win. So maybe he's paid the price a little bit in that respect.

“Everyone does things their own way. Some fight harder for things, some fight less. But I enjoy watching them argue like they do.”

Norris addresses Verstappen call for Qatar investigation

Norris was on course for a podium finish in Qatar but was issued a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for not slowing for a yellow flag.

The matter was raised by Verstappen who noted Norris seemed to decrease the gap to him through the yellow flag zone, which was deployed following a loose mirror on the track.

Norris asserted he has no hard feelings towards Verstappen for raising the situation with race control.

“I think every driver on the grid would do the same as what Max did,” Norris said. “That's racing, they are the rules. 

“Max could tell I didn't obey the rules I could have done, I still could have lifted. And he just doesn't know, but he's thought of something, and he said it, that's completely fine by me.”