Site logo

Norris unsurprised by Verstappen's response

NEWS STORY
28/10/2024

Lando Norris says he knew what to expect when he challenged Max Verstappen in Mexico.

A week after Austin, the pair were once again involved in two controversial moments which led to the three-time world champion being hit with two 20s penalties.

The first followed Norris handing the lead back to Carlos Sainz after the McLaren driver cut Turn 4 shortly after the restart. Settling in ahead of the Red Bull, Verstappen then attempted to pass Norris on the inside at Turn 8.

As far as the stewards were concerned, Norris had been attempting to overtake on the outside of Verstappen at Turn 4. The Briton was ahead of the Red Bull at the entry, apex and towards the exit of the turn when he started being forced off the track.

The stewards believed that the manoeuvre was done in a safe and controlled manner and that Norris would have been able to make the move on the track had he not been forced off by Verstappen. Though Norris had cut the corner he had immediately given the position he gained as a result back to Sainz.

Following the incident in Turn 4, Verstappen attempted to pass Norris on the inside at Turn 8. The Dutchman was ahead at the apex and would have been entitled to racing room. However, he was not able to complete the manoeuvre on the track, left the track and kept the lasting advantage gaining the position, incidentally forcing Norris off track.

Consequently Verstappen received one 10s penalty for forcing another driver off track and another for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage.

"I was through," said Norris at the time. "This guy is dangerous."

The Briton's mood hadn't softened by race end, indeed he admitted that his championship rival's tactics hadn't surprised him.

"I knew what to expect," he said. "I didn't want to expect such a thing because I respect Max a lot as a driver, but I was ready to expect something like this.

"This is not very clean driving, in my opinion, but I avoided it, and it was a good race.

"The first few laps, a lot of it was just trying to stay in the race and avoid any crashes," he admitted.

The Briton subsequently said that while he had anticipated such a move by his rival, he felt that the Dutchman had pushed things too far.

"I don't think I need to say much, I think it's pretty self-explanatory on what happened," he said. "I did everything I'd been told in terms of what the rules are and all of this stuff. Yet it just wasn't to be, and of course, he got some penalties for that.

"I go into a race expecting a tough battle with Max. It's clear that it doesn't matter if he wins or second, his only job is to beat me in the race. He'll sacrifice himself to do that, like he did today.

"I want to have good battles with him, you know, I want to have those tough battles, like I've seen him have plenty of times, but fair ones," insisted the Briton. "It's always going to be on the line, it's always going to be tough with Max. He's never going to make anyone's life easy, especially mine at this point of the year. But I think today was just, it was not fair, clean racing.

"Today I think was another level on both of those cases," he continued. "I was ahead of Max in the braking zone, past the apex. I am avoiding crashing today, this is the difference. I think today was a step too far and it was clear that the stewards agreed to that. So I don't see it as a win or anything like this, it's more that I hope Max acknowledges that he took it a step too far."

Asked whether he might talk to his rival in a bid to calm things down, Norris said: It's not my job, it's got nothing to do with me in a way. But today I felt like I had to avoid collisions. That's not what you feel like you want to do in a race.

"He's in a very powerful position in the championship, he's a long way ahead, he has nothing to lose," he added. "People can say it's the other way around, like he's got everything to lose and it's all for me, but it's not the case.

"So it's not for me, I'm focused on myself, I'm doing my job, which was a good job today, and I'm happy with all of this, and I'm happy with my whole weekend. But it's not my job to control him, he knows how to drive, and I'm sure he knows that today was probably a bit over the limit."

Check out our Sunday gallery from Mexico City here.

LATEST NEWS

more news >

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images

POST A COMMENT

or Register for a Pitpass ID to have your say

Please note that all posts are reactively moderated and must adhere to the site's posting rules and etiquette.

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by Spindoctor, 29/10/2024 11:07

"Are we seeing the return of "evil Max"?
Max has shown that although he is undoubtedly fast, he is also brittle. His early career was littered with crashes, both on his own & into others. His battles with Hamilton were characterised by obdurate "defence" and ludicrously aggressive overtakes which frequently ended in tears.

Latterly he's had a few years in a car much faster than the rest & has confidently swept to victory unchallenged: until the last part of this season. Now he's being challenged the brittleness is returning. His efforts at Austin were lauded as "brilliant" because he used a loophole to force Norris into a penalty. In Mexico he was a very naughty boy, he clearly completely lost it again in Mexico.
"

Rating: Neutral (0)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by Pavlo, 28/10/2024 17:02

"@stoney - I’m not sure whether Lando wanted it or not, but he actually showed to Max that he has a way to fight against his strategy, it’s technically possible to be in the front on apex and let Max get a penalty.
This time it worked with help of Sainz, but the concept is clear, Max knows that Lando will not just evade and let Max overtake.
This is probably better than just dull overtake with DRS.
Overtake from Sainz was brilliant, but no way Max would let Lando use that line."

Rating: Positive (3)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by karel, 28/10/2024 12:07

"Norris thinks that champions are made by complaining and crying"

Rating: Negative (-9)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by stoney, 28/10/2024 11:56

"Agreed - and we can't know what would have happened in hypotheticals. But two counter-points:
- Lando still could have chosen a better point to make his move than the one he did rather than recreating a previous attempt.
- Following your logic, Max is far enough ahead where he can also play the numbers game."

Rating: Positive (1)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by West York, 28/10/2024 11:27

"@stoney - The point is that Carlos, although a challenger in the race, is not a challenger for the title, and Max doesn't need to spend time and rubber defending from him but does need to either keep Lando behind him or to take him out to protect his championship lead."

Rating: Positive (4)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by stoney, 28/10/2024 10:59

"My personal view: Max was out of line in Austin and again here in Mexico. I'm happy that the stewards chose to give two separate penalties to make a clear statement to Max. I'm also not a steward, which is a good thing for the sport.

But I do note that Carlos was able to get by into Turn 1 without any issue.

I'm not apportioning blame here, but before the mob completely runs off with pitchforks in hand, it does make you think that Lando could have waited for a similar move, rather than just doing a copy-paste of what didn't work the week before, and risking a "dangerous" move.

But perhaps that's what Norris wanted when slinging it around the outside and making sure his front axle was in front.

I guess I'm just trying to say that it seems there are two egos in this equation, not just one. And if the real goal was to win, it seems Carlos had a better strategy."

Rating: Neutral (0)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by Wokingchap, 28/10/2024 9:11

"Well said Lando and very well driven. Max clearly doesn't understand clean racing, ruthless driving is not the way to go."

Rating: Positive (5)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by Spindoctor, 28/10/2024 8:21

"The end of a beautiful friendship?
Loved Horner describing McLaren's calling-out of Max's dodgy driving as "whingeing". Says the man whose driver complainant about everything g, all the time.
"

Rating: Positive (6)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Share this page

X

Copyright © Pitpass 2002 - 2024. All rights reserved.

about us  |  advertise  |  contact  |  privacy & security  |  rss  |  terms