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.
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.