The aftermath of the Hungaroring race saw McLaren’s Norris inadvertently causing damage to the Red Bull driver, Verstappen’s trophy. Having finished second to Verstappen, Norris had taken to celebrating in his customary style; placing his celebratory sparkling wine on the top step of the podium, causing Verstappen’s trophy to fall and be damaged.
Known for his zealous champagne popping celebrations since his junior racing days, Norris’ actions resulted in the trophy’s base and top getting damaged when it fell to the podium floor.
A remarkable artifact valued at $45,000, the trophy took half a year of painstaking handcrafting by the skilled craftspeople at Herendi Porcelanmanufaktura Zrt.
Reacting to the incident in a post-race interview, Norris light-heartedly blamed Verstappen for placing the trophy “too close to the edge” of the podium. However, a week later at Spa, he expressed remorse for the incident and his comments.
In the pre-event press conference at Spa, the venue for the Belgian GP and the final race before the F1 summer break, Norris said, “First of all, I do want to apologise for it. I never intended to do something like this, and I understand the significance of this trophy for Hungarians and their culture. Although I was enjoying the podium celebrations, I never intended to cause any damage.”
Further elaborating, he added, “I have offered my apologies to Max. I may have made a few jokes about the incident, which was inappropriate. I feel remorseful. If the roles were reversed, I’d feel aggrieved. I apologise for the mishap and to those who invested their time and effort in creating the trophy. I promise to be more careful in future celebrations.”
In response to a question about changing his celebratory style in the future, Norris stated, “I’m going to say no. There’s no need for that. I just need to be more careful with what I do. Next time, I’ll just move the trophies aside and then continue.”
In a twist, Verstappen revealed at Spa that as per Red Bull’s policy, the trophy actually belongs to the team and is displayed at the Red Bull’s Milton Keynes factory, which was once the target of a burglary in 2014.
Asked about his plans for the broken trophy, Verstappen commented, “We get a new one anyway so it’s alright. I’m not sure what they’re doing with it. It’s probably at the factory at the moment. They take six months to craft a new one, so for that period, they can keep the broken one.”
Additional report by Jon Noble.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Norris Verstappen Trophy Incident
What happened at the Hungaroring race involving Norris and Verstappen’s trophy?
During his post-race celebration, Norris unintentionally knocked Verstappen’s trophy off the podium, resulting in damage to its base and top.
Who crafted Verstappen’s trophy and what is its value?
The trophy was handcrafted by Herendi Porcelanmanufaktura Zrt and is valued at $45,000.
What was Norris’s initial reaction to the incident?
Initially, Norris made light of the incident, suggesting that Verstappen had left the trophy “too close to the edge” of the podium.
Did Norris apologize for the incident?
Yes, a week later at Spa, Norris expressed his remorse for the incident and his previous comments, promising to be more careful during future celebrations.
What is the policy of Red Bull Racing regarding trophies?
Red Bull Racing’s policy is that all trophies belong to the team and are displayed at their Milton Keynes factory.
What will happen to the damaged trophy?
Verstappen mentioned that they would receive a new trophy anyway, and the damaged one would likely be kept at the factory for the six months it takes to craft a new one.
More about Norris Verstappen Trophy Incident
- Hungaroring Race Results
- Herendi Porcelanmanufaktura Zrt
- Verstappen’s Career Highlights
- Norris’s Racing History
- Red Bull’s Milton Keynes factory
5 comments
Haha, I like Norris’s style, celebration gone wrong, but hey it’s all in good fun. He’s got spirit and that’s what we need in F1!
6 months to make a trophy! now thats some dedication right there. respect to the craftspeople. it’s not just a shiny thing, it’s art!
Ok, I like Norris and all but I’d be ticked off if that was my trophy. good he apologized though.
Man, that’s a costly mistake! 45k down the drain. Norris needs to check where he’s poppin’ that bottle next time.
Feeling for Norris, he didn’t mean any harm. At least Red Bull get a new one and it goes to the team anyway…