Lando Norris: Max Verstappen’s Moves “Not Fair, Clean Racing”

Lando Norris openly criticized Max Verstappen’s racing tactics after the Mexico City Grand Prix, calling them “not fair, clean racing.”  Verstappen brushed off his two 10-second penalties for separate incidents involving Norris, saying he was more concerned with Red Bull’s lack of race pace. Despite the penalties, Verstappen finished sixth while Norris took second behind Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

Norris and Verstappen clashed within four corners, echoing a similar incident from the previous week at the U.S. Grand Prix. During that race, the stewards penalized Norris for overtaking off-track while attempting to pass Verstappen. Following discussions with the FIA, drivers secured a promise for new guidelines to address these types of moves, which many considered unfair.

In Mexico, Norris reached the apex slightly ahead when Verstappen ran him off-track, breaching the guidelines and triggering Verstappen’s penalties. Norris believes Verstappen’s aggressive defense specifically targets him because they’re title contenders—a sentiment Lewis Hamilton once shared when battling Verstappen in 2021.

Team leaders also weighed in: McLaren’s Zak Brown praised the FIA’s enforcement while Red Bull’s Christian Horner argued that Norris brake-tested Verstappen. Ferrari’s competitive showing boosted their contention with McLaren for second place in the Constructors’ Championship with Red Bull struggling.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff remarked that the new enforcement would deter aggressive moves in future races emphasizing that the stewards had set a clear precedent. With four rounds remaining, Lando Norris trails Verstappen by 47 points making a title win unlikely unless Verstappen retires from a race.