HomeFormula 1is Max Verstappen overdoing it?

is Max Verstappen overdoing it?

- Advertisement -

The Mexico City Grand Prix circuit just witnessed an amazing race on Sunday. Ferrari’s Smooth Operator Carlos Sainz started on Pole and took the victory of the Mexican Grand Prix.

But all eyes were on the Championship leader Max Verstappen, as he earned a 20 second penalty for first pushing Lando Norris off track at Turn 4 and then driving Norris off track again at Turn 7 in the same lap. 

- Advertisement -

Different strategy for the Champion?

Max Verstappen, it seemed was more interested in hindering Lando Norris’s race and stopping Lando from gaining max points in the race. 

Max had the best opportunity to take the lead of the race from Sainz and secure himself another 25 points. But Verstappen chose the earlier option. 

In the past races, whenever Max has taken the lead and Norris has been behind, the fans have experienced peak racing from both drivers as Norris pushed from behind to overtake and Max pushed to stay ahead. 

Past battles between Norris and Verstappen

The best action was seen in Austria and Austin. In Austria, when the race was nearing its end, Max Verstappen had Lando Norris right on his tail, diving inside on the inside and outside to overtake. Finally, the moment came, Lando had DRS and Max was still too far from Turn 3 to stay ahead at the apex of the turn. 

Max Verstappen moved slightly left before turning right into Turn 3. That was it, Max and Lando collided, both had tire punctures and Lando Norris was out of the race, while Verstappen finished 5th.

In Austin, Texas, Max Verstappen was gunning for 2nd after Carlos Sainz, when Lando Norris finally caught up with him. From then on, in the last 10 laps of the race, Norris tried his best to overtake, but Max Verstappen showed great talent as he fended off Norris till Lap 52. 

Norris had the DRS advantage again, this time, both drivers went off track and Norris overtook Max. Norris got a penalty and Max finished in 3rd, just ahead of Lando Norris.

Dangerous driving by Max Verstappen?

Source- TSN handle on X

The Mexican Grand Prix started with Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen fighting for 1st place. Soon though, Carlos took the lead of the race, with the Dutchman at his tail, vying for an overtake. 

Max tried but could not overtake Sainz in that lap, so he tried again in the next. Only this time, Lando Norris was in DRS range. With Max and Lando both with their rear wings open chasing down Carlos Sainz to Turn 4, Lando pulled ahead before the apex, braked and let Max go ahead at the apex. But Max Verstappen, in his usual fashion made a show out of it. 

Max deliberately turned very slightly, talking a wider line and pushing Norris off track. Norris went off track and overtook Max before Turn 6. 

Max, infuriated that his move did not work, pushed hard to get close to Norris at the exit of Turn 7, and was ahead at the apex. Again, Max took a wider line forcing both drivers to go off track. 

The Stewards took notice and gave Verstappen a whopping 20 second penalty for such driving.

Verstappen out to get Lando Norris?

Source- www.autosport.com

Verstappen, it seemed had had enough of, his friend off-track, Lando Norris on-track. Those manoeuvres Max pulled at Turn 4 and 7 were uncalled for. 

His fans have supported his previous similar incidents, but at this particular instance, it is hard to admit being a Verstappen fan, Max was wrong and did not drive like a champion. 

Only 4 races are left in this season, with the Brazilian Grand Prix up next this coming Sunday. Max has already landed there and copped a five place grid penalty because he’s all set to use what will be his sixth internal combustion engine for the soon-to-begin race at Interlagos. This, actually, is his second breach of the season.

Max Verstappen is down to a lead of 47 points, and it seems that losing his lead has led Max to lash out at Norris, his championship rival on-track. Who knows what’s to come? Will Interlagos see another incredible McLaren triumph, the likes of which one saw earlier at Miami and Hungary or will Max somehow manage to find Norris in what could be yet another scrap on the field with severe repercussions to follow? Who’s to know what is to come?  

What one knows is that there are two hugely talented drivers who will give it absolutely everything, if not a grin, to stay out in the lead; one seemingly more pressed than his title rival to defend his points lead. What do you reckon? 

So what does fate have in store for the Championship and for the Champion?

Source- official X handle Max Verstappen

Both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are great drivers, pardon me for being biased towards the latter. Lando Norris has his own faults, like Max has his. 

Norris has not proven to be a very unchallenging title contender. In the races where McLaren MCL38 has not been performing at the top level, Max has beaten Norris with a problem laden car. 

The RB20, the car which Red Bull refused to put a livery on, due to weight, pace, aerodynamic problems still, in the hands of the Dutchman, sped across the finish line first at the US Grand Prix Sprint Race. On the other hand, Lando Norris was overtaken by both Ferrari’s.

To say that Lando is a less skilled driver is wrong, he is a very skilled and talented young driver, but he lacks the grit, the cut-throat aggression Max Verstappen has running through his veins. 

These last 4 races will decide who will become our 2024 Formula 1 World Champion, and currently all eyes are on one man, and his name is Max Verstappen.

- Advertisement -

15 Highly Educated Cricketers Of All Time

Cricket is a game of passion and dedication. A sport in which one involves themselves in camps and practice since early childhood. Due to...

Why are more and more MotoGP riders using the Noson nasal dilator?

Introduction MotoGP riders or athletes are physically fit and healthy individuals and their muscles are continuously functioning and used during the performance. As a fan...

Do we often under-appreciate Andy Flower? What’s his legacy?

There's a hint of sadness in noting that Zimbabwe has never been a dominant power in world cricket. But nothing could be sadder than...

How Come UFC Fighters Have Cauliflower Ears But Boxers Don’t?

The UFC has come a long way since its early days, wherein the fights seemed like modern-day gladiators due to its brutality and inconsistent...

5 spinners who can be India’s potential finger-spinners

The Indian cricket team has always been proud of its ability to produce world-class batsmen and similarly potent spinners. Though in recent times, the...

IPL 2018: The beautiful Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Being seated in the Sawai Mansingh stadium brings a different world, a world of difference away from the palpable excitement of watching truly India’s...

Top 5 Left Wingers In The World, Based On 2019-20 Season

Owing to the fact that football has evolved a lot since its inception and the tactics have changed a lot, the role of wingers...

The astonishing decline of Mario Balotelli

There was a time when Mario Balotelli was on top of the world.  The Italian talisman had scored two goals in the Euro 2012 semi-finals,...

What can be expected from the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Heat in the air and heat inside the car- that's been the story of the Azerbaijan Grand prix. As F1 parks itself at Baku...

How Suresh Raina Batted India Into The Finals of 2011 World Cup

Its been 9 years, since India won the Cricket World Cup defeating Sri Lanka on 2 April, 2011. The images and visuals of...

Ajax XI if they didn’t sell their star players

Based in Amsterdam, AFC Ajax, who incidentally draw their name from the legendary Greek hero of the same name, are the most successful club...

IPL 2018: The best from the West Indies

When one of nature's treacherous attacks on mankind- earthquakes- strike, their impact is measured on Richter's scale. When West Indians strike in a tournament...

Age Fraud in Indian Cricket: Are players really to be blamed?

There have been times while watching a cricket match when we tend to hear commentators comment on cricketers’ age. We as fans have many...

5 famous players to play for both Leeds United and Liverpool

Leeds United are back in the Premier League after 16 years and will play Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday in their very first match...

Big change for India Women’s cricket as BCCI looks to finalise bowling coach soon

We are not even at the halfway stage of the 2018 cricketing season. It clearly seems there's no stopping India's women's cricket team. The...

- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -