Mexican Grand Prix analysis: Max Verstappen vs Lando Norris battle getting spicy
The Mexican Grand Prix was charged with controversy as Max Verstappen and Lando Norris clashed in a dramatic showdown that led to significant penalties for the Red Bull star.
Sports News Blitz writer Noah Ngcobo dissects the action-packed race which ensures excitement is building nicely ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
Just a week after a heated encounter at the United States Grand Prix, championship contenders Verstapped and Norris found themselves battling fiercely once again at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday.
In an intense sequence of events, Verstappen was hit with a substantial 20-second penalty for two separate incidents involving Norris.
The drama began as Norris attempted to overtake Verstappen at Turn four. In a robust defensive move, Verstappen forced Norris off the track, which prompted the stewards to intervene.
Initially, Verstappen was issued a 10-second penalty for this manoeuvre.
However, the situation escalated when he cut across Turn eight while trying to regain position, leading to another 10-second penalty being added to his record.
Key advantage
This brought his total penalty time to a significant level, effectively handing Norris a key advantage.
Norris expressed his frustration on team radio, labelling Verstappen’s actions as "dangerous" and not reflective of fair racing.
He noted that he had been forced to avoid collisions rather than racing competitively, and he felt that Verstappen, who has a considerable lead in the championship standings, was more aggressive due to his secure position.
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Measured approach
Verstappen, for his part, took a more measured approach, stating he would not dwell on the penalties but acknowledged that the day had not gone as planned.
As the dust settled, both drivers and their teams offered conflicting views on the incidents.
McLaren's Zak Brown applauded the stewards for taking action, stating that it was crucial to ensure clean racing moving forward.
Meanwhile, Red Bull's Christian Horner criticised Norris' tactics, suggesting that he deliberately braked later to position himself advantageously.
Tension brewing
This back-and-forth only adds to the tension brewing between the two teams, as both aim to solidify their standings in the championship.
With the championship picture still wide open, Norris' second-place finish in Mexico was crucial in his pursuit of Verstappen, though he noted that he felt no closer to catching him in the standings.
The clashes between these two rivals have brought to light the ongoing discussions regarding racing regulations, particularly in terms of aggressive defensive manoeuvres.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how this rivalry unfolds and whether the FIA will adjust its guidelines to better address these intense racing scenarios.
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