Fellow driver calls for race ban for Max Verstappen after Austrian GP clash with Lando Norris

According to Bradley Philpot, a former British Touring Car Championship driver and a two-time Nürburgring Endurance champion, Max Verstappen should face a race ban for his collision with McLaren driver Lando Norris during the Austrian Grand Prix.

Verstappen was very dominant at the Red Bull Ring. The Dutchman claimed pole position for Satuday's Sprint and also went on to win the shortened Grand Prix. After his victorious Sprint, Verstappen claimed pole position for Sunday's Grand Prix by more than four tenths of a second.

During the race on Sunday the Red Bull driver lead for most of the race, but due to a lengthy second pit stop and a mistake going into turn 4, McLaren driver Norris was able to come very close to the rear of Verstappen's RB20, eventually leading to some overtaking attempts by Norris.

Norris versus Verstappen

After some failed overtaking attempts, Norris decided to try another strategy. Where before he dived on the inside of the corner to overtake Verstappen, Norris now did so on the outside of turn three. In doing so, both drivers touched and then got hit with a flat tyre.

Norris and Verstappen both went back to the pits for new Pirelli rubber, but only Verstappen was able to continue his Austrian Grand Prix. Norris's car was too severly damaged to continue the race. Eventually, Verstappen finished the race in fifth place and was able to secure the fastest lap of the race. The Dutchman left Austria with an eleven point gain over Norris in the Drivers' Championship.

Verstappen garners negativity

After Sunday's race, Verstappen received a lot of hate and negativity online. A lot of people called the Red Bull driver 'Crashstappen' or even 'Verstappen 1.0', as former Formula One driver Martin Brundle wrote in his Sky Sports column. The Dutchman also received some negativity from a fellow driver.

"Trying to run a car off the road who you’ve just crashed into, whilst you’re driving with a rear puncture, should be an instant race ban. Max caused a crash and then deliberately forced the car he’d just crashed into to take to the grass on a straight. He hasn’t matured. He simply had less competition for the last few years", said Philpot on X.