Norris: I don't think it should've been a big penalty for Verstappen

Verstappen was given a ten-second time penalty after being deemed at fault in the crash that happened between him and Norris in the dying moments of the Austrian Grand Prix last Sunday.

But to be honest, Norris seems to be confused, and is definitely confusing everyone who reads what he has been saying recently.

Just after the race in Spielberg, he said that he expected and apology from Verstappen or else he would lose respect for him, but then he retracted that in Silverstone on Thursday, insisting his rival does not have to apologize.

And while McLaren Team Principal implied that penalties should take into consideration the consequence of any incident, which is against the current practice in Formula 1, Norris was also asked about this point.

"It's tough," he said. "I think sometimes we say it should be, sometimes we say it shouldn't be, as drivers. Yeah, at times you don't want the consequence to be taken into account. But also at times, I think it definitely should be taken into account.

"But it's a very tough one, because our incident was so tiny. So for what it was, I don't think it really should have been a big penalty at all, or even if a penalty, at the end of the day," he surprisingly claimed.

But then he goes on about how the consequence - his DNF - should have been considered: "But considering he put me out of the race and took me out of a chance of winning a race and that kind of thing, then it definitely adds a lot more to the facts.

"And if he had a big enough lead and he could still go on to win the race or something, Yeah, I do think it needs to be taken into account in some ways, but understanding how and how much and where that line is, again, I think is a complicated and difficult thing.

"So something I'm sure we'll have to speak about at FIA and drivers, but not an easy thing to have a role for," he pointed out.

When quizzed further to confirm if he thought Verstappen should not have been penalized, the Briton probably realized what he just said maybe did not come out right, and answered: "No comment."

Verstappen and Norris have been sending out positive soundbites ever since they arrived in Silverstone, the Dutchman insisting maintaining his friendship with the Briton was his priority.

But it would be interesting to know what Norris' bosses Andrea Stella and Zak Brown thought about what he said, the latter always happy to stir the pot.