Max Verstappen will start the 2024 Hungarian GP from P3, with the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri starting ahead on the front row. The latter two will hope to hold position and help McLaren to a 1-2 finish but Verstappen has other plans.
In the post-qualifying press conference, Norris was asking Piastri if they ever locked out the front row before when Verstappen was spotted making gestures with his hands. The Briton noticed and asked Verstappen if he meant that his car would jump over his McLaren in the race on Sunday.
*Max calling for Lando and gesturing with his hands*
Lando: you’re coming over to the back of my car?? that’s not very nice. do a bottas pic.twitter.com/vQiTVLeSIo— Ray (@ln4norris) July 20, 2024
“You’re coming over the back of my car? That’s not very nice,” said Norris.
Admittedly, Verstappen’s car has jumped over someone else’s before. At the 2021 Italian GP, the Dutchman collided with his title rival Lewis Hamilton at the first chicane in Monza, resulting in his car landing on top of the Mercedes driver’s halo.
Norris then suggested that Verstappen could do a Bottas instead. By saying this, he was referring to another incident from the 2021 Hungarian GP involving Valtteri Bottas, who was then Hamilton’s teammate. The Finn’s lap one lock-up took three drivers out of the race in one go and caused collateral damage to several other cars.
Bottas goes bowling!
A moment in the wet with huge implications for the entire grid in 2021 #F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/478z9MDzlG
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 17, 2024
However, the implications of Verstappen making a Bottas-like error instead could end up hurting Norris or his teammate Piastri.
What if Verstappen pulls a Bottas in Hungary?
Verstappen will start the race from right behind Norris. As such, if the Dutchman locks up, there is a high chance he will make contact with the Bristol-born driver, which could end his race.
It could open the way for Piastri to take the lead and become a favorite for the win, or the Aussie could also see his race get hampered.
Regardless, Verstappen is likely to take risks on lap one of the Hungarian GP. The Hungaroring is a difficult track to overtake on, and if the three-time champion falls too far behind the McLaren duo, he could find it very difficult to make up places for the rest of the race.
The tire strategy could also play a crucial role in determining its outcome, as Red Bull team principal Christian Horner suggested. With the temperatures predicted to be high similar to Friday, managing tires and choosing the right compounds in the race will be quite important for everyone.
