The Formula 1 world has been turned upside down again after a remarkable development involving McLaren driver Lando Norris. The British driver has officially filed a complaint against the FIA after receiving the heftiest fine in the past five years for his “offensive and shocking actions” toward world champion Max Verstappen during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The incident occurred shortly after the race’s finish, when Norris, visibly frustrated, launched a harsh attack on Verstappen, who, according to Norris, had overtaken him in an “aggressive and disrespectful manner” during a crucial phase of the race. Footage from the paddock showed Norris furiously storming to the Red Bull garage, where, according to multiple sources, he verbally abused Verstappen and his team.
The FIA quickly intervened after reviewing the footage and listening to the team radios. Norris was fined a whopping $250,000, a record since 2020, for unsportsmanlike conduct, foul language, and disparaging a fellow driver.
To everyone’s surprise, however, Norris decided not to bow to the sanction. In a statement through his lawyers, he stated that he considers the fine unjustified, excessive, and politically motivated. “I stand by my emotions and words, even though they were raw. Max’s driving was dangerous, and I reacted to it correctly. The FIA is punishing me for daring to speak out.”
His complaint to the FIA’s International Court of Arbitration for Sport will be heard this week.
Although Max Verstappen hadn’t publicly discussed the incident until now, he gave a short but telling response to a Dutch sports channel: “Let him talk. I win on asphalt.”
The statement, which quickly went viral, is seen as a cool-headed response with which Verstappen takes his rivalry with Norris to a new level – without stooping to mudslinging.
Reactions to the incident have been mixed. Some find Norris’s outburst understandable given the tension of racing, while others believe he overstepped the mark. Former driver Nico Rosberg said in an interview: “Being angry is okay, but there’s a limit. If you start making personal attacks on live cameras, that’s wrong.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem defended the fine: “We must protect the integrity of the sport. Respect between drivers is essential.”
With the legal battle between Norris and the FIA just beginning, and Verstappen seemingly having the final say on the sporting front, this saga seems far from over. One thing is certain: the next race promises to be intense.
