Max Verstappen in disbelief as Red Bull trophy damaged again at Belgian GP

30 July 2023 , 17:06

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Max Verstappen won the Belgian Grand Prix (Image: HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

Red Bull suffered a Formula 1 trophy mishap for the second weekend in a row.

Max Verstappen won the Belgian Grand Prix at a canter. And there were celebrations all round at Red Bull as his team-mate Sergio Perez finished second, the team continuing its remarkable success this season.

But one of the team's prizes was damaged in the post-race celebrations. As Red Bull staff were taking their usual group photos after the Grand Prix, things got out of hand and one of the team's trophies hit the floor in the process.

In a video posted to Red Bull's social media accounts, staff can be seen running towards the camera to celebrate in their usual style. But someone appears to trip over and Verstappen can be seen shouting: "It's broken again! The trophy is broken again!"

Footage posted on the team's TikTok account shows a member of staff accidentally knock over the board celebrating Perez's second-placed finish. It fell onto what appears to be the constructors' trophy, which then is knocked onto the floor.

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Long-serving team adviser Helmut Marko played a role in making sure the other two prizes were not hurt. The Austrian could be seen holding onto Perez and Verstappen's individual trophies as the other is sent tumbling to the ground.

Remarkably, it comes only a week after the Dutchman's trophy for winning the Hungarian Grand Prix was smashed on the podium. Lando Norris had banged the top step with his champagne bottle and inadvertently sent the porcelain prize toppling over.

The McLaren driver said sorry for causing the damage. But he went on to make it clear that he does not plan to change anything about the way he celebrates a podium going forward.

A team member knocked into the board behind the trophy (redbullracing/TikTok)

The board toppled over and knocked over the trophy (redbullracing/TikTok)

"I do want to apologise for it," said Norris. "I obviously had no intention to do such a thing, and I know how much it means to the Hungarians and it is part of their culture. It was never my intention to do such a thing and I did apologise to Max.

"I know I made a couple of jokes about it which maybe I should not have. I know if it was my trophy, I'd be annoyed, so I do apologise for it. Obviously, for all the people who put the time and effort into making it, I really didn't mean for it to happen so I'll make sure I am a lot more careful next time celebrating."

Asked if he would be making any changes, Norris went on to add: "There's no reason why I should, I'll just take a little bit more care. I'll just move the trophies aside and then continue."

Daniel Moxon