July 5th 2024.
The Formula One world has been buzzing with excitement as the British Grand Prix approaches, with all eyes on the emerging rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Former F1 star Mark Blundell shared his predictions for the race, expecting a thrilling battle between the two drivers.
As fans flock to Silverstone this weekend, they are anticipating a showdown between home favorites Norris, Sir Lewis Hamilton, and George Russell. But the focus has been on Verstappen and Norris, after their dramatic collision at last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix. While the crash was initially blamed on Verstappen, tensions flared when he and his team at Red Bull refused to take any responsibility, causing friction with Norris' McLaren team.
In an exclusive interview with Metro Sport, Blundell, who raced in F1 from 1991 to 1995, shared his thoughts on the incident, saying, "I'm old school, so I want to see gladiators on the track. I want to see wheel-to-wheel combat. It was a thrilling moment for me as a fan."
He also praised Norris for putting up a strong fight against Verstappen, despite the outcome not being what either of them wanted. "Max is a tough opponent, especially in a Red Bull car. Lando showed great determination and psychologically, he did himself a lot of good," Blundell added.
The rivalry between Verstappen and Norris has been well-documented, with the two drivers having a close friendship. However, as they compete for the championship, maintaining that friendship may prove to be difficult. Blundell acknowledged this, saying, "It's a tough balance to maintain a friendship when you're competing against each other at such a high level."
He also emphasized the importance of being a competitive F1 driver and not letting personal relationships get in the way. "At the end of the day, it's your job to be a top driver. You can't let friendships affect your performance on the track," he said.
As for the upcoming race at Silverstone, Blundell predicts Verstappen will secure pole position, with Norris and Russell following closely behind. He also believes Mercedes will struggle to keep up with the pace of Red Bull and McLaren, but Ferrari could potentially surprise everyone with their performance.
Blundell's ideal podium for the race would be Norris, Hamilton, and Russell, but he admits that Verstappen is still the favorite to win. "I don't see any weaknesses in Max's driving or his team's strategy. He's in a league of his own right now," he said.
With the tension between Verstappen and Norris, and the added pressure of competing for the championship, the race at Silverstone is sure to be an intense one. As Blundell put it, "In the world of F1, it's dog eat dog. And at this level, every driver will do whatever it takes to come out on top."
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