WATCH: Fans defend Max Verstappen by quoting Lewis Hamilton's take on similar incident like Austria

The recent Austrian Grand Prix has sparked intense discussions within the F1 community, focusing on the aggressive defending tactics employed by Max Verstappen. The controversy centres on the incident between Verstappen and Lando Norris, which significantly impacted the race outcome and reignited debates on racing ethics and sportsmanship.

Verstappen, who led most of the race, faced a series of unfortunate events towards the end. A pit stop error by Red Bull and subsequent car issues allowed Norris to catch up. Despite overtaking Verstappen, Norris was penalized for leaving the track and had to relinquish his position.

In his attempt to reclaim the lead, Norris collided with Verstappen, resulting in punctures for both drivers. The incident caused Verstappen to drop to fifth place, earning a 10-second penalty and two penalty points, while Norris was unable to continue despite returning to the pit lane.

What did Max Verstappen say?

Max Verstappen commented on the incident, emphasizing the complexities of racing dynamics: "I mean, of course, from the outside, it’s hard to see how I brake. I always move my wheel before my brake and then you brake in a straight line. I think the guy in the car knows best. Everyone can have their own opinion. From the outside, it's easier to judge; it's what happens.” 

Here is the video:

To all the Lewis fans who say Max can't race w2w and is overly aggressive...



What do you have to say about this?



Lewis:

"You could ask every world champion...if you're on the outside, you gotta back off"



We went car racing...#F1 #EmiliaRomagnaGP #Hamilton #Verstappen https://t.co/ZdXNOdasnm pic.twitter.com/IjSp6oyrmL

— Box Box (@BoxBoxAndStop) May 14, 2024

“His [Norris'] dive bombs, he’s so late on the brakes. I think it’s the shape of the corner that provides these issues sometimes. It is what it is. It is never nice when it happens. I need to look back at why and how we touched. Of course, we will talk about it, it's just what happens. I’ve had a lot of battles in my career."

The incident drew significant criticism on social media, with fans and experts divided in their opinions. Some fans highlighted a similar incident involving Lewis Hamilton that had gone largely unnoticed. In a resurfaced video, Hamilton can be heard saying, "You could ask every world champion...if you're on the outside, you gotta back off." This comment added another layer to the debate, suggesting that aggressive defending and the responsibility of drivers in such situations are long-standing issues in the sport.