“Can’t get him to change”: Former F1 champion agrees with Christian Horner’s take on Max Verstappen’s driving style

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill agrees with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner's statement that Max Verstappen's driving style cannot be changed. These comments were made after the Red Bull star's intense on-track battle with McLaren's Lando Norris at the 2024 F1 Austrian GP.

Leader Max Verstappen was chased by Lando Norris during the race at Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. The Dutchman found the McLaren driver catching up several times due to their tires' age difference as the two had several wheel-to-wheel moments, on Turns 1, 3 and 4.

Eventually, as both their cars turned on Lap 64, both Verstappen and Norris suffered a puncture, but only the latter had to retire the car due to front axle and wing damage. Max Verstappen ended up in P5, while Mercedes' George Russell took the opportunity to win his first race of the season.

After the race, Christian Horner spoke to Sky Sports and said that Norris has to learn to compete with Verstappen. He added that the Dutchman will simply not change his driving style.

Agreeing with this statement, Damon Hill also told Sky Sports that no one can get Verstappen to change his driving style. He pointed out how Norris tried to surprise Verstappen by launching an overtake from the inside, but the three-time world champion was quick to close the door on the McLaren driver.

"Yeah I think it's probably true. I mean, what do you do about it? We can't get him to change it seems. His approach is very much his own approach. And I think he tried, Lando, he launched one [overtake] down the inside and nearly got away with it, took him [Verstappen] by surprise. But, as we know unfortunately, it later came to blows," Hill said.

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Christian Horner on Max Verstappen and Lando Norris' recent on-track battle at Austria

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner discussed Max Verstappen and Lando Norris' on-track battle after the race in Austria.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he clearly stated that Verstappen will simply not change his driving style. He explained how Lando Norris and McLaren are gradually learning to race against the three-time world champion.

Horner speculated that such on-track battles between the two will only become closer from this point onwards.

"Certainly, from Max's side, he's not going to change. There's an element, I think, of Lando learning how to race Max and they're discovering that. Inevitably, there is going to be more close racing between the two of them as the cars look so close over the forthcoming races," Horner said.

"Max is a hard racer - he's probably one of the hardest racers on the circuit and everybody knows that if you're going to race against Max, he's going to give as good as he gets," he added.

After the Austrian GP, Max Verstappen continues to lead the drivers' championship with 237 points, while Lando Norris, who retired from the race in Austria, retains his second place on the standings with 156 points.