Max Verstappen insisted that he is just following F1’s rules after Lando Norris accused his title rival of “incorrect” driving following their contentious incident during last weekend’s United States Grand Prix.
Norris overtook Verstappen for third in the latter stages of the race but was then given a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage while making the pass, so dropped to fourth behind the Drivers’ Championship leader, and is now 57 points adrift with five rounds remaining.
The decision proved highly contentious, with McLaren arguing that Norris was left with no option but to go off track as Red Bull’s Verstappen broke late and also ran wide and off track at Turn 12.
With F1’s Americas triple-header continuing with weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix, Norris and Verstappen reflected on the incident during the event’s media day before McLaren stunned the paddock by launching a bid to overturn the penalty on Thursday evening.
McLaren’s petition for a right of review hearing, at which they are required to produce “significant and relevant” new evidence that was unavailable at the time of the decision, will take place at 9.30pm UK time (2.30pm Mexico City time) on Friday.
“It’s how the rules are written. I don’t make the rules, first of all. I just follow the rules, as much as I can,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.
“Of course, sometimes you get caught out with it. We’ve had that in the past. I just implement the rules and play with them.”
In explaining that decision, the stewards’ official verdict made reference to the ‘Driving Standards Guidelines’ – a document outlining the latest rules of engagement in wheel-to-wheel combat, which has had input from F1 drivers and been updated for this year, ahead of a planned formal insertion into the FIA’s International Sporting Code that governs all motorsport in 2025.
The stewards pointed out that Norris was not ahead or level at the apex of Turn 12, therefore gained a “lasting advantage” when the McLaren driver overtook Verstappen.
“We’ll ask questions. We’ve already asked certain questions. It’s not something that needs to be done publicly or anything,” Norris told Sky Sports F1 when asked about whether the rules need to be clarified when two cars go off track.
“But we can just have conversations on why I got the penalty, because I don’t believe it was correct. I think the majority of people don’t agree it was correct, but that’s life and sometimes it doesn’t go your way.
“I think things just need to be clear for the future on what’s allowed and what’s not. I think the fact of getting off your brakes to achieve just the ruling of being ahead at apex no matter how wide you run on the exit, is incorrect and I don’t think that’s how racing should be.
“Of course, that’s the ruling at the minute and that’s just what you’ve got to deal with. So, I think there needs to be some tweaks.”
Former world champion and Sky Sports F1 pundit Jenson Button questioned the regulations, while Martin Brundle called for rule changes in his latest column.
Verstappen, who is looking for a fourth consecutive world title, thinks the rules are very clear regarding overtaking.
“At the end of the day, you cannot overtake outside of the white line. That’s a very clear rule, and I’ve been done by it myself,” he said.
“So, I don’t understand why then suddenly now we need to ask and scream for changes in the regulations when it’s been like that forever.
“I mean, I grew up, go-karting, F3, F1 – you know that you cannot pass outside of the white line, it’s as simple as that.”
Norris: Verstappen has nothing to lose
Prior to Austin, Norris had taken points out of Verstappen at the previous four races and momentum was firmly with the McLaren driver.
However, Red Bull’s upgrades in Austin made them more competitive, while Ferrari outperformed everyone, claiming a one-two finish.
Norris is experiencing his first title fight in F1 and his first against Verstappen, who he says he is enjoying racing against despite the challenges posed by his friend and rival.
“Max races hard. That’s inevitable, it’s something I expect. I just don’t think I was in the wrong last weekend,” he continued.
“We’re both on the limit and it’s hard to judge sometimes your braking by the perfect centimetre or metre even, when you’re going the speeds that we do.
“Not necessarily do I believe I was correct, per se, I just don’t believe any of us were necessarily in the wrong. So, it’s not that I shouldn’t have got a penalty and he should. I just don’t think any of us should have got a penalty.
“I’ve tried to overtake, I’ve done it in a way that probably isn’t the best way to do it. But he also didn’t defend, or attack, whichever one you want to say it is, in the way that also applies by the rules. We were both in the wrong and therefore I think that’s racing.
“But it’s not for me to decide, it’s for the stewards to decide and they have a tough job on making these rules and adapting to every single one.”
Norris and Verstappen also collided at the Austrian Grand Prix in June, with the McLaren driver coming off worse.
“Every race and every point is different to look in to. Sometime you need to understand, I think, the drivers’ mindset,” said Norris.
“Max has nothing to lose, I have a lot to lose, so he can afford to take much bigger risks than I can.
“That’s just the unfortunate position that I’m in at the minute. I enjoyed the racing, I really enjoyed the battle that we had last weekend, but I need to make some tweaks on my side, at the same time, to make sure I come out on top.”
Russell: Verstappen drives in different ‘manner’ in title fight
The first of Verstappen’s three successive championships saw him drive aggressively with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, with some comparing Sunday’s incident in Austin to his move against the Mercedes driver at the 2021 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, when he defended and went off the track.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell pointed this example out when giving his view on last Sunday’s incident, which he thinks Verstappen should have been penalised for.
“He’s in a title battle with Lando, the same way as he was in a title battle with Lewis, and I don’t think he would have done the same manoeuvre if that was any other driver. The same way in Brazil 2021, I don’t think he would have done the same manoeuvre if it was any other driver,” claimed Russell.
“So it was a bit do or die, and I think he’s quite happy to drive in that manner against your title rival, which for me, I totally understand.”
When told about the comments, Verstappen said: “I disagree. At the end of the day, just speak for yourself. Don’t bother too much about other people and enjoy our life.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Mexico City GP schedule
Friday October 25
7pm: Mexico City GP Practice One (session starts at 7.30pm)
9pm: The F1 Show
10.45pm: Mexico City GP Practice Two (session starts at 11pm)*
Saturday October 26
6.15pm: Mexico City GP Practice Three (session starts at 6.30pm)
9pm: Mexico City GP Qualifying build-up*
10pm: Mexico City GP Qualifying*
Sunday October 27
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico City GP build-up*
8pm: THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico City GP reaction
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event (Race build-up on Sunday from 7.30pm)
Formula 1’s Americas triple header continues this weekend with the Mexico City Grand Prix, with every session live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
