Max Verstappen (front) and Lando Norris don’t give each other anything in Mexico either.
picture:
Keystone
Near crashes and time penalties: When overtaking becomes difficult. Max Verstappen’s driving style becomes controversial in the World Cup draft with Lando Norris. He has a completely different concern.
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- At the Mexican GP, Max Verstappen once again attracted attention with his uncompromising driving style and the stewards of the race gave him two ten-second penalties.
- “I don’t give up that easily, and in the end it’s not about whether you agree with the penalty or not,” said Verstappen, commenting on the decision after the race.
- Meanwhile, challenger Norris stressed in Mexico City: “I want to have good, hard fights with him, but fair fights.”
Max Verstappen didn’t spend long in the highly charged discussion about his brilliant and uncompromising course. After another setback in the increasingly toxic and tightening title fight with Lando Norris, the three-time Formula 1 world champion is clearly more worried about his own Red Bull car. “If you’re slower, you get into these situations,” Verstappen explained after the Mexican Grand Prix.
It is doubtful that this explanation is sufficient for Norris’s opponent. “The man is dangerous,” the McLaren driver radioed from the car and said afterwards: “I knew what to expect. That was not a clean drive.” McLaren managing director Zak Brown said the time penalties against Verstappen were probably not enough: “It’s getting a bit ridiculous.”
While trying to defend himself against Norris in the race in Mexico City, Verstappen exceeded the limits allowed by the stewards of the race and received two ten-second penalties and two points in the offender’s register. “I don’t give up that easily, and in the end it’s not about whether you agree with the penalty or not,” Verstappen said. After recovering from the penalties, he came from 15th to sixth, Norris finished second behind Spain’s Carlos Sainz in another strong Ferrari.
Has Verstappen’s driving style changed?
Verstappen now has 47 more points than Norris – with a maximum of 120 points still to be found in the remaining four Grands Prix. Only next weekend it will be 34: The other sprint decision is also coming up in Brazil. Until then, the number one topic will continue to keep Formula 1 at its highest operating temperature since the race in Austin a week ago: Verstappen’s driving style. Although this probably hasn’t really changed.
The 27-year-old knows no compromise, he is merciless. But it didn’t need to be as high as Red Bull’s dominance – due to the lack of competition that could have overcome it. The question behind it at the moment seems to be: How much overtaking is now possible and allowed in Formula 1 and how you can protect yourself against it. The fact that drivers are pushing their limits is a characteristic of the sport and, above all, one that has made and continues to make the most successful among them. And this year Verstappen only has to defend himself more often.
In Spielberg, he and Norris clashed badly, and the friendship that binds them both seemed to be in jeopardy. And then it started again recently in Austin. Norris lost third place to Verstappen with a five-second penalty after he lapped the Dutchman shortly before the end, leaving a similar track to Verstappen and, in the race stewards’ view, gaining an illegal advantage.
Harsh penalties against Verstappen for overreacting?
Not only did Norris and McLaren complain, but so did other drivers. They demanded clarity from the rule enforcers, but the focus was always on Verstappen, who has now been sanctioned twice in Mexico.
“The harsh penalties were an overreaction after what happened in Austin,” Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko told pay channel Sky. “The huge penalty from the race stewards at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday came at the weekend Norris, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and other drivers asked the FIA to tighten the rules due to an “unfair” driving style ” Verstappen. ,” wrote the British tabloid “The Sun”.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner even presented data sheets to prove that Norris would not be able to turn the corner in one of the two controversial scenes. “On the lap with the incident with Max he was 15 km/h faster and later on the brakes than his fastest lap in the Grand Prix.”
Pérez is no help – quite the opposite
In the constructors’ championship, Verstappen and Red Bull were placed third behind McLaren and Ferrari. Thanks to Charles Leclerc’s third place at the Autodrómo Hermanos Rodríguez, Ferrari got almost maximum points for the week after Austin’s double success – the Monegasque also grabbed the point for the fastest race lap. The second Red Bull driver finished 17th – another low point for Sergio Pérez. And that too at his home race. When asked, Marko explained that his future is open.
Verstappen will finally decide on the sporting interest of former industry leader Red Bull, which is in crisis on many fronts this year. «He is in a very strong position in the championship. It’s way ahead. He has nothing to lose,” he stressed to Norris, who would be far worse off if he failed as a competitor than Verstappen.
This time, the 24-year-old Brit said that the duels with Verstappen were just to avoid an accident and he made it clear: “I want to be good, hard fights with him, but fair ones.”
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A-t-name=”Paragraph”>=”a-paragraph”>In the heated context of this Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen’s driving style has become a topic of intense debate. His recent performance at the Mexican Grand Prix drew significant attention, particularly his interactions with rival Lando Norris. Verstappen received two ten-second penalties for his aggressive maneuvers, prompting discussions about the appropriateness of his driving tactics. Norris, feeling the brunt of Verstappen’s uncompromising approach, labeled it as “not a clean drive.” The rivalry between these two drivers is palpable, and both seem eager for hard-fought battles on track, though they differ on what constitutes fairness in racing.
Verstappen’s unapologetic stance after receiving penalties – emphasizing his refusal to back down – speaks to his competitive nature, even amidst criticism from peers and team officials. The push for clarification in racing rules has intensified, particularly as other drivers echo concerns over safety and fair play, reflecting a changing dynamic in the sport.
As the championship race progresses, Verstappen holds a significant point advantage over Norris, but both drivers remain locked in a fierce competition. The upcoming races will not only determine the championship’s fate but may also shape the future standing of both drivers within the sport, as they continue to navigate the thin line between aggressive racing and acceptable conduct on track.
With Lando Norris and the penalties he received for exceeding track limits while defending his position. Norris expressed concerns over Verstappen’s aggressive driving, stating, “The man is dangerous,” and indicated that he felt Verstappen’s maneuvering during the race wasn’t clean. Despite facing two ten-second penalties and accruing two points on his record, Verstappen managed to recover from 15th to finish sixth, emphasizing his unwillingness to back down during intense competition.
The debate surrounding Verstappen’s driving style intensified after the race, especially as he maintained a significant points lead over Norris in the championship standings. Critics, including team principals and fellow drivers, urged the FIA to clarify rules and enforce consistent penalties, particularly in light of Verstappen’s recent actions.
Red Bull team members defended Verstappen, arguing that the penalties were excessive and stemming from an overreaction following the Austin incident. Helmut Marko, a Red Bull motorsport adviser, suggested that the scrutiny on Verstappen was disproportionate and highlighted data they presented to counter claims about the legality of his driving.
Additionally, Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Pérez, struggled during the race, finishing in 17th place, which further complicated Red Bull’s position in the constructors’ championship. Meanwhile, Norris positioned himself for more competitive battles, expressing a desire for fair and robust racing with Verstappen without crossing into dangerous territory.
As the Formula 1 season progresses, the focus on Verstappen’s driving style, combined with calls for clearer regulations and potential adjustments from the FIA, will be crucial topics for debate as the remaining races unfold.