The FIA has adjusted the race director’s guidelines at the Austrian Grand Prix following a close encounter between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen during the second free practice session at the Red Bull Ring. This change aims to prevent similar incidents during qualifying sessions by clarifying driver positioning on the track.
Details of the Near Collision Between Norris and Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring
During FP2 on Friday, Max Verstappen was driving slowly on the left side of the track between Turns 1 and 3. At the same time, Lando Norris approached at high speed and squeezed through a narrow gap between Verstappen’s car and the track edge. Verstappen’s surprise was evident over radio communication when he said,
“What the hell? Just drives on the left.”
—Max Verstappen
FIA’s Response and Update to Qualifying Protocols
The stewards did not launch an investigation into the incident, as they found no basis for further action. However, FIA race director Rui Marques issued a revision to the event notes before qualifying on Saturday. He instructed that drivers on slower laps must clearly move to the far right side of the track between Turn 1 and Turn 3 to make way for faster cars and reduce the chance of a repeat near miss.
The updated note stated,
“Additionally, during Qualifying, drivers making way for faster cars between Turn 1 and Turn 3 must clearly move to the far right hand side of the track.”
—Rui Marques, FIA Race Director
Practice Session Performances and Championship Context
Lando Norris entered qualifying on strong form, having topped two of the three practice sessions in Spielberg. After missing FP1 on Friday, Norris returned in FP2 to lead the timesheets, outperforming his competitors. He solidified this pace by edging ahead of his McLaren teammate and current championship leader Oscar Piastri by 0.118 seconds in FP3 on Saturday morning.
Max Verstappen, a five-time winner at this circuit since 2018, posted the third-quickest time, 0.210 seconds slower than Norris. While Piastri holds a 22-point advantage in the Drivers’ Championship after winning five of the first ten races this season, Norris has secured two victories in Australia and Monaco. Other race winners this season include Verstappen, who won in Japan and Emilia Romagna, and Mercedes’ George Russell, who claimed victory in Canada.
Significance of the Incident and What to Expect Moving Forward
The FIA’s swift amendment of qualifying rules highlights the governing body‘s commitment to safety and clarity in on-track protocols. By mandating that slower drivers move explicitly to the right, the risk of last-minute collisions with faster cars should decrease, improving overall race weekend flow. This update could also influence how drivers approach qualifying laps at the Red Bull Ring, emphasizing spatial awareness and communication.
As the season progresses, monitoring compliance with this new guideline will be crucial, especially given the tight competition among title contenders like Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, and Russell. The incident serves as a reminder of the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of F1 racing, where seconds and positioning can significantly impact results.