Redmut motorsport consultant Helmut Marko said after qualifying in Portimao that there could be an ulterior motive for Norris to be instructed on the team radio not to do Verstappen a favor.
In an interview with the Austrian broadcaster Servus TV, Marko said that Red Bull had taken note of the radio message – and pointed out that it was a trick by McLaren to strengthen its motor partner Mercedes.
Marko looked at the way Verstappen had missed pole and said, “Of course it’s frustrating when you set the fastest time. But in Turn 4 [on his first run] he got a gust of wind from behind and it got him out. He lost time, not gained.
“Then Lando Norris was instructed at the second run not to do Max a favor. Very athletic in the Mercedes squad. And then with [Seb] Vettel was of course busy with the car that he kept it on the road. It was a little unfortunate. “
But McLaren insists it didn’t do anything wrong, and it was clear that it was just about making sure the rivals didn’t take advantage of the slipstream.
Team boss Andreas Seidl said: “First we have to make it clear that we are driving for ourselves and for no one. Our goal is to drive as high as possible in our two cars.
“I think it’s normal that, like everyone does and Max was no different, you don’t want to give anyone a tow because it’s an advantage for the other car.
“Qualifying is about completing the lap time yourself without the help of someone else.
“And I think this radio call is probably related to … If you look at what everyone was doing on the main straight, after the round was over all you were trying to do was get out of the way, out of the slipstream, to make sure everyone can do his lap himself and without additional help. “
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Norris himself said he interpreted the radio message as not to help Verstappen by giving him a good tow during the round.
“I have no idea what I did wrong,” said Norris when asked about Verstappen’s complaints. “I was sure that I was way ahead of him and when I let him pass I was on the far right, on the opposite side of the track, in second gear, as slowly as I can.
“So I tried my best to avoid him. I didn’t mean to hinder him or anything like that. But I didn’t hear or see what was said. I didn’t block him or do anything like that. I’ve never been so close. “
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