Lando Norris hits out at ‘idiot’ Max Verstappen after Italian Grand Prix drama

Max Verstappen passed Lando Norris for the lead of the Italian Grand Prix (Photo: Getty)

Lando Norris branded Max Verstappen an ‘idiot’ after the pair nearly came to blows at the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Verstappen won from pole at Monza, his first victory since May, with Norris finishing second and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri third.

While not the result he would have wanted, the British driver did at least claw back a few points in the title race against Piastri, with the gap down to 31 points with eight races remaining.

There was drama at lights out when Verstappen moved over to defend from Norris, forcing him onto the grass at high-speed when the track narrowed.

Norris managed to keep going and dived up the inside of the Red Bull down at the first corner, but Verstappen failed to make the turn, cutting across the chicane and maintaining the lead of the race.

Stewards investigated the incident but Red Bull quickly instructed the Dutchman to let Norris overtake him as he had gained an unfair advantage, and no further action was taken.

Norris was left fuming in the initial aftermath, saying on the team radio: ‘Yeah, what the f***, what is this idiot doing?

‘Come on, he’s put me on the grass and then he’s just cut the corner.’

It mattered little in the end, as Verstappen passed Norris a few laps later and then controlled the race to claim his third win of the season and Red Bull’s first since Christian Horner’s departure.

More to follow…

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