Martin Brundle has recommended the spat between Purple Bull F1 workforce principal Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen could have impacted Max Verstappen’s on-track efficiency on the Austrian Grand Prix.
The most recent dispute between Verstappen’s father and Horner emerged over the weekend when Verstappen Sr pulled out of a deliberate look within the Legends Parade, claiming the Purple Bull workforce boss had intentionally tried to dam him from collaborating.
Verstappen Jr admitted on Saturday that the row was “not good” and will have been prevented.In Sunday’s grand prix, the three-time world champion noticed his hopes of victory wrecked in a late collision with McLaren’s Lando Norris amid a hard-fought battle for the lead.
Verstappen was nonetheless capable of end fifth and lengthen his championship lead, however writing in his newest post-race column for Sky, Brundle questioned the Dutchman’s “driving ways”.
“Did he know he was there? He confirmed post-race that he did, he is on high of all of it effectively sufficient. They touched and it completed Norris’s race and left Verstappen limping dwelling for 3 quarters of a lap with a puncture,” Brundle wrote.
“What I discovered alarming is that after the contact and as they have been each limping alongside, Verstappen clearly tried to impede and gather Norris if he might.“Verstappen would get a 10-second penalty for the flip three contact, however such was his tempo thereafter on recent tyres it mattered not, as he recovered to fifth place, really rising his championship result in the angst of many.
“In commentary, and in these columns, I’ve waxed lyrical about Max’s expertise, and I stand by that, he is one of many absolute best I’ve ever witnessed in 40 years.
“I’ve additionally stated that he is calmed down, matured, and performs extra the share recreation with three championships in his pocket. However that seems to have been a skinny veneer as this race was very a lot Max 1.0, together with his default driving ways and denials resurfacing.
“I am making no excuses for him, however I do marvel if the ridiculous spat between his father Jos and workforce boss Christian Horner has lastly surfaced on monitor for him.
“And to listen to the Purple Bull workforce on the radio after the race telling him it was all Norris’s fault was a tough pay attention, it damages their credibility all spherical.”
Brundle additionally took purpose at Norris, arguing the 24-year-old Briton must have extra “endurance and crafty” with a purpose to beat Verstappen in future.
“It was clear Norris would get a five-second penalty for monitor limits and the entire thing was completely pointless for Purple Bull,” Brundle added.
“It should even be stated that Lando’s race craft was fairly gung-ho. He’ll want extra finesse, endurance, and crafty than that if he needs to start out beating Max repeatedly to win a championship.”
