Norris answers booing Italian fans, Verstappen hails Monza as 'best podium' in F1
During the Italian Grand Prix celebrations, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris were given differing treatment by the crowd.
Whilst Verstappen was treated to yet another encore of his tribute song ("Du, du du, du, Max Verstappen"), Norris and Piastri found themselves being booed by the Monza crowd.
Speaking to GPblog, Norris responded to the booing as he stood on the P2 spot of the Italian Grand Prix podium.
"Yeah, I don't know. I don't know why [I was being booed]," he said.
"So, I heard them, but, yeah, I don't know what I'm going to do.
"I heard the cheers louder than the boos and that's the most important," he added, trying to draw on the positivity he received from the Italian fans, rather than the negativity.
Verstappen says Monza podium is 'probably the best' in F1
For Verstappen, hearing the support from the Italian crowds is not a first, with the Dutchman being audibly celebrated with the same tribute song earlier in the year following his win at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Though acknowledging that the crowd had not made it to the track to support him per se, Verstappen was pleased to see them nonetheless as he stood on the top step of the podium.
"I think already in Imola it was pretty similar. Of course, most of them are here to support Ferrari, but to see that crowd was incredible.
"Honestly, it's probably the best podium, I think, in the season in terms of what you see and just how big the crowd is.
"They were very joyful, I would say. Just having a good time and it was just nice to be part of it," Verstappen concluded.
Read also
F1 drivers no strangers to the crowds boos
In modern F1 it is widely known that fans sometimes make their feelings known in the form of booing a particular driver. Lewis Hamilton was booed by the Italian fans following his Monza win in 2018.
Verstappen himself has often been booed, particularly after his epic title fight with Hamilton in 2021, and by disgruntled Sergio Perez fans, more evidently at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix and United States Grand Prix.
In recent F1 history, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg have also been targeted by the boo-boys at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps respectively.
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