Dimi

Mclaren TP Andrea Stella after Norris and Verstappen collided in Austria in 2024: '“The rules were not enforced,” said Stella. “It would have been enough to give Max a warning, like a black and white flag, don’t do it again. This episode should be taken as an opportunity to tighten up the boundaries and enforcing some of the rules that are already in place.” Norris accused Verstappen of driving in a reckless and desperate manner and Stella also referenced the racing between Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen in 2021 when the pair came together repeatedly in what was a very tight title fight, noting he believed decisions not to punish Verstappen in the past had been an error by the FIA. Hamilton and Verstappen clashed at Imola, Silverstone, Monza and Jeddah that season. At Interlagos in Brazil, Verstappen pushed Hamilton off the track but that was not deemed as worthy of a penalty at the time, although Hamilton did win. The decision not to censure Verstappen’s driving was widely questioned as legitimising such moves and Stella believed it may have only emboldened him. “We don’t want to see another 2021. That was not a good point in F1, it might have been entertaining but not for good reasons,” he said. “If you don’t address things, as soon as you introduce competition, as soon as you introduce a sense of injustice, these things escalate.' This is why I'll also rate Lewis' 2021. He kept touch with Max despite nearly always taking the high road and backing out. He let Max off so often, maybe too often, by driving so passively, just like the stewards let him off too often too. The very few times Lewis didnt budge it ALWAYS ended in contact. With a different driver, I don't think the two even finish half the races that year.