Lando Norris slams Sergio Perez's aggressive tactics in Abu Dhabi clash

The controversy unfolded on lap 47 as the two fiercely battled for fourth place, culminating in a clash at Turn 6.

Despite the collision, both drivers miraculously emerged unscathed, but Perez's subsequent overtake came with consequences. The stewards imposed a five-second penalty on the Mexican driver, relegating him from second to fourth at the race's conclusion.

Perez, however, wasn't willing to shoulder the entire blame and contended that Norris played a role in the incident. This difference in perspective sparked a post-race verbal exchange.

Norris, in an interview with Viaplay, expressed his anticipation of the collision when Perez made his move at the corner. "I was expecting it to be honest," Norris remarked. "He crashes into a lot of people, so not something new for anyone to know. But I did give him a lot of space."

Remaining composed, Norris noted that the altercation didn't significantly impact his overall race performance. "It didn't change my race in the end of the day. So it was a tough day. We just didn't have the pace we wanted," he explained, highlighting the slim margin that separated them from better results.

Reflecting on McLaren's achievement despite the challenges, Norris added, "I'm still happy we, as a team, beat Aston Martin. That was our target, and we achieved it."

The intense competition unfolded against the backdrop of Max Verstappen's victory, sealing the Red Bull driver's triumph in the final race of the Formula 1 season. Verstappen's win marked an impressive record of 19 victories out of 22 races, a feat likely to endure as an indomitable benchmark in the annals of Formula 1.

As the season concluded, Perez secured a fourth-place finish, closely trailed by Norris in fifth. The Norris-Perez clash, however, left an indelible mark on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, further fuelling their intense rivalry.

 

Read More: Abu Dhabi GP: Red Bull's Max Verstappen ends season with another victory (planetsport.com)