Lando Norris failed to break the winning streak of Max Verstappen in Hungary but ended up breaking his winner’s trophy which is worth $44,500 while celebrating on the podium. Even though both Norris and Verstappen took the matter lightly and did not mind what happened, Red Bull Chief Advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has a very different view.
The unique trophies of the Hungarian GP are made of porcelain, by a company known as Herend, famous for making products of for the last 200 years. As per F1 journalist Sándor Mészáros, the trophy is completely handmade and takes around a year to make. The cost of such a piece can go up to $45,000.
The #HungarianGP trophies are made by Herendi Porcelanmanufaktura Zrt. All are handmade, production time is approximately six months and it costs ~ 40.000 euros. 2/1#F1 #Hungaroring #NorrisGate pic.twitter.com/YhEdR86b2R
— Sándor Mészáros (@mesandor) July 23, 2023
However, all of this didn’t seem to matter much to either of the drivers. They joked about the issue and indulged in some friendly banter. Following the race, Norris commented that the broken trophy was Verstappen’s fault; his explanation being that the Dutch racer failed to keep the trophy in a safe position.
Helmut Marko wants the younger generation to appreciate art
As for Dr. Helmut Marko, the issue was much more serious. The Red Bull boss spoke to the Austrian daily newspaper Österreich about the incident. There, he explained how he felt about the broken trophy, and the drivers’ reaction to it.
Marko said that he knows how much the Hungarians love their art, which is something he truly respects. He explained that he will teach Verstappen the value of the art that was destroyed.
lando’s reaction when he realised he broke max’s trophy 😂 pic.twitter.com/4fxORSxhXl
— comfort lando (@safeforlando) July 23, 2023
Marko said, “This is Hungarian tradition. Young people have to understand that first.” The Austrian advisor is a known art connoisseur, having his own huge collection of art. Therefore it is very natural that he doesn’t find the whole issue funny.
Max Verstappen set to receive a replacement
Simon Atilla, the CEO of Herend, recently announced that Verstappen won’t have to lament about the loss of his trophy. This is because the company has announced that they will replacing the trophy with a new one.
🏆 The €40,000, hand-painted #HungarianGP winners’ trophy that took six months to make before Lando Norris accidentally broke it on Sunday is being remade for Max Verstappen and should be with the world champion in just a few weeks.
[1/2] pic.twitter.com/HnnafmCAgu
— The Race (@wearetherace) July 25, 2023
It has been reported by National Sports News that the company has already started working on a replacement trophy that Verstappen will receive very soon. However, given the intricate process that goes behind making these pieces, the fact that Verstappen will get his replacement in a matter of weeks is truly suprising.
