Verstappen bewildered by 'weird' Red Bull issue

Max Verstappen has hinted there was something “weird” occurring with his Red Bull car before his clash with Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Verstappen enjoyed a strong opening stint and pulled out a gap to Norris who was running in second place.

However, after a slow second pit stop, Norris closed in on the Dutchman who suffered a lock-up into Turn 4, allowing Norris to get within DRS range.

Verstappen has suggested there was a problem with his car after enduring a different feeling behind the wheel following the pit stop.

“There must have been something weird going on with the car because it suddenly just became an undrivable car,” Verstappen told media including RacingNews365.

“It's so hard,” Verstappen added when asked for an explanation regarding the problems he was facing. 

“It's probably also really [about] attention to detail. If you just find a little bit of a better set-up, it can help you.”

Prior to their clash in Austria, Verstappen and Norris had battled closely for victory on a number of occasions, with the front of the grid dominated by the duo at five out of the last six races.

When asked if it was inevitable that they would come together, Verstappen replied: “You shouldn't think like that and that's also never how I thought about stuff. 

“But of course sometimes these things happen, which you never want to happen.

“The dive bombing, it's just sending it up late and hoping that the other guy gets out of it and you make the corner, which wasn't the case.

“Of course, you can say moving under braking for me which wasn't the case because I didn't move when I braked.

“Just sending it up the inside from far, it looks good, I like it as well. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. That didn't work out [for Norris]. 

“The contact we had was super unfortunate.”