Verstappen on Norris saying 'Simply Lovely': 'They did that on purpose'
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Max Verstappen was not impressed to say the least by the comments made by McLaren over the 2024 season. The Dutchman shared his thoughts on Andrea Stella's comments about his style, and also addressed the situation when Lando Norris said 'Simply Lovely' after winning the 2024 Dutch GP.
Verstappen: 'I can't do anything with this victimisation'
In the '24 season, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris first locked horns at the Austrian GP. After the two made contact and had punctures, Norris had to retire his car, while Verstappen was able to bring home his RB20 to earn points. Following the incident, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was highly critical of the Red Bull driver, citing the notorious fight between him and Lewis Hamilton back in 2021.
While Verstappen can understand that emotions ran high at the Woking-based team, he has a clear reaction to Stella's comments. "I can understand that, but this is typical victimisation again, and I can't really do anything with that," he told Viaplay.
Verstappen: 'McLaren did that on purpose'
Later this season, for the first time since the Dutch GP returned to the calendar, it was not Verstappen who crossed the finish line in P1. It was Lando Norris who could dominate in the Netherlands this time. Over the team radio after the race, the British driver quoted Verstappen's cathphrase, 'Simply Lovely'. That was not the last time either that was brought up: In Abu Dhabi, after winning the constructors' title, Zak Brown said the same.
"You have to take it as a compliment. If you start copying people, that's a compliment," said the Red Bull driver. "I think they were very conscious of that. 'We have to beat him at Zandvoort, give him a mental bash.' Things like that... I don't care about all that. I'm not sensitive to that. I was just disappointed with the race, we just came up short," explained who he reacted to what Norris said.
"Of course I'd rather win at Zandvoort too," he continued. "But for me that doesn't matter mentally. Also that quote.... Fine, let it go. I'm already focused again on the next race, and on how to solve our problems. You just have to be very unemotional about it. When things like this start affecting you, you start shooting from side to side all the time and making mistakes, or then you start driving forced to show something. You don't get anywhere with that."
This article was written in collaboration with Nicole Mulder
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