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F1 Today | Horner backs FIA despite backlash, Norris' aplogy to Verstappen
It might be the Formula 1 off-season, but the sport truly never sleeps. There are still stories coming out of the F1 world every day. Lando Norris retracted his no talent, just luck statement to Max Verstappen last night at the FIA prize-giving ceremony in Rwanda. Christian Horner backed the governing body as they faced backlash from drivers, and Sergio Perez was surprisingly rewarded for an action in the 2024 season.
Norris retracts the 'lucky' statement:
Up until the Brazilian Grand Prix, where his championship dreams were snuffed out by Verstappen, Lando Norris had had his first fighting chance at a world title. After the Brazilian Grand Prix, Norris made a controversial comment about how Verstappen's win was all luck and no talent. However, he retracted this statement on stage while accepting his second-place award.
"First of all, I retract that comment back there where I said it was all luck, no talent. You know how the media changes things," Norris began. See the full story here.
Horner backs the FIA:
Christian Horner has backed FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for his exclusive stance on the sports regulations. The drivers want the president and his organisation to be more open in their decisions. The GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers Association) would like to have more of a say in the sport that they participate in. The Emirati said that it was 'totally none of their business how the FIA is run.
"Well, he's absolutely right. It's down to the FIA, being the regulator of the sport, to write the regulations and police the regulations. And when you sign up for the championship at the start of the year, you sign on the dotted line to abide by those regs," he began. See Horner's full statement here.
Perez surprisingly rewarded:
Sergio Perez's future might be up in the air after a difficult season. Despite his eighth-placed finish, Sergio Perez did not leave the FIA gala empty-handed. Instead, he went home with the 'Action of the Year' award.
Towards the start of the season in Shanghai, there was a four-way battle during the sprint race. Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc and Perez. The battle was being closely fought, especially between Alonso and Sainz. Sainz overtook Alonso, but the former two-time world champion would not accept defeat. Alonso attempted to overtake Sainz, but as they were battling it out, Perez seized his opportunity. Both Alonso and Sainz went wide, which gave Perez the space to claim a higher position. Perez ended up taking P3 on the podium in that same place. See Perez's full reaction as well as a recap of the move with this link
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