Verstappen hoping to avoid repeat of 2021 nightmare in duel with Norris

SILVERSTONE, United Kingdom – Max Verstappen will hope to avoid any repeat of his 2021 nightmare this weekend when he and Lando Norris go head-to-head in the next round of their Formula One title battle at the British Grand Prix.

Just days after a controversial crash wrecked both drivers’ races at the Austrian Grand Prix, gifting victory to George Russell of Mercedes, Red Bull's three-time champion and McLaren's pretender to the crown meet again.

The prospect of more wheel-to-wheel racing and potential contact at the high-speed Silverstone circuit, in front of a partisan home crowd, inevitably prompts memories of a similar scenario in 2021.

Then, an unforgiving and relentless Verstappen ended up in hospital after an opening lap crash at the fearsomely fast Copse corner with British hero and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.

The times have changed, but the scenario is worryingly similar — two driven racers refusing to concede ground, albeit that Verstappen was adjudged to be guilty of causing their emotion-charged clash last Sunday.

He has since recognized that he and Red Bull made "mistakes2 but has yet to make any public apology for his reckless racing that led to McLaren team chief Andrea Stella questioning the integrity of his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner.

Stella also made clear his views on the FIA’s part in allowing Verstappen to escape punishment for his part in many alarming clashes with Hamilton three years ago, comments that have added spice to this weekend’s contest, turning it into a 'high stakes' showdown with more than points on the line.

"Austria ended up not being the result we were hoping for and there were a lot of things to take away from the race that myself and the team can analyze and work to improve on," said Verstappen.

"There were some mistakes in the race that really cost us. This is the last race of a triple-header so we want to come back fighting in Silverstone."

'We want to fight'
For most of the teams, it is a 'home' race and Stella hopes this time Verstappen will not defend as aggressively and respects the regulations to provide a true racing spectacle.

Norris has said he would not change his tactics or