Unlikely to calm the rising tension between the teams, Max Verstappen accuses McLaren of complaining a lot.

The Dutchman wasn't so much referring to the hoo ha that followed yesterday's controversial incident(s) but rather the Woking team's continued suggestion of skulduggery in terms of ride height.

However, asked what he thought of the stewards decision to penalise Lando Norris, the three-time world champion seized the opportunity.

"No, I don't," he insisted, when asked if he sympathised with the Woking team's unhappiness with the penalty. "I mean, they complain about a lot lately anyway, but it's very clear in the rules. Outside the white line, you cannot pass.

"I've been done for it as well in the past," he added. "I think it's quite clear, you can't overtake outside of the white line. I mean, I got done for it also here in, I think, 2017 or whatever it was. I lost my podium like that.

"I just remained calm, tried to do the best I could after that to bring the car to the end because it was not easy with the tyres and the situation that I was in. But overall, I still really enjoyed that battle that we had."

Finishing ahead of his title rival in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix means that Verstappen heads to Mexico with a 57 point comfort cushion.

That is definitely the positive," said Verstappen. "I did hope for a little bit more performance today, that's why we have to analyse why we weren't that good.

"I think everyone is a little bit better or the same as yesterday, but we were definitely worse. I need to understand why."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 23/10/2024 8:17

"@ Spindoctor...You nominate the Verstappen move, as sanctioned by the the FIA rules, as playing a trick? There is nothing tricky there...IMO. It is simply a textbook defensive ploy. The rules are quite clear and the fact that Verstappen was not penalised substantiates that interpretation. To suggest that Norris deliberately cause an accident as a means of making a statement is nothing short of nonsensical...again IMO. What Norris needs to do is face the facts. He needs to curb his impatience and choose a different approach if he is to outrace Verstappen. If he can't do this then either accept his place or choose another category. Not only is Verstappen possibly one the very very best there has been but he is also an exciting and clever driver who is able to adapt his strategies as determined by race conditions. A formidable challenge at the best of times."

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 22/10/2024 13:07

"I thought it was pretty clear that Max deliberately ran Norris off the track. Yes he was marginally ahead at said apex, but he was going straight on & could never have made the corner without going off track, which he inevitably did. Lots of commentators have lauded his "brilliant defence", but had Norris decided to be bloody-minded it could easily have ended in tears....

Assuming that this strategy is permissible & has become the de-facto rule regarding such incidents, overtaking around the outside will be seem to be rendered impossible - all the "defending" driver has to do is straighten his path & accelerate as he approaches the apex, in order to be marginally ahead et voila the putative "overtaker" is screwed.

One could argue that Norris should have been more patient. Given the points-difference it would probably not harm his title "challenge" if next time Verstappen tries this little trick, he turns-in anyway - making sure to hit something vital on the RBR in the process... At least he'd avoid penalties for going off-track!"

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3. Posted by kenji, 22/10/2024 1:44

"This entire issue needs to be sorted ASAP as the suggestions will taint the outcome of the entire years results. Zak Brown really needs to' man up' and put his evidence on the table for all to see. He can either prove a point or take the consequences. Brown and his 'bestie' seem to making a concerted effort to bring mazimum aggravation to Red Bull. IMO someone from RB has attempted to implicate RB in an as yet verified claim. Disaffected?...possibly. The FIA have cleared Red Bull and that is where it stands ATM. Innocent until proved otherwise."

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4. Posted by Mad Matt, 21/10/2024 15:20

"On the complaining front I don't like when any team does it all the time and Zak has gone a bit too far recently but it pales into insignificance when compared to Christian and Helmut who sometimes seem to do little else.

In this case I can understand why McLaren are upset, if Max beat Lando to the apex it was only because he was going to fast to make the corner himself and in the past that's been taken into consideration... but this time not.

For me they both should have been given a penalty and perhaps Max a second one for the dive bomb at the first corner.

Other than that a good fight and lots of other action further down the field.

I like the circuit... but perhaps they need a lot more natural consequence corners where drivers don't go wide because of gravel, curbs, walls etc. Then we could talk more about the race and less about stewarding decisions."

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5. Posted by kenji, 21/10/2024 9:57

"The word police got in first!!!"

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6. Posted by Superbird70, 21/10/2024 9:42

"Kudos to Max for not swearing."

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7. Posted by Stitch431, 21/10/2024 8:30

"And right he is. the last couple of weeks there was hardly a day where Zak Brown wasn't in the news yawling over some kind of injustice."

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McLaren complain a lot, says Verstappen

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