A week after the controversy at the United States Grand Prix, McLaren got its revenge in Mexico on Sunday. If the stewards showed a certain laxity towards Max Verstappen in Austin according to the British team, they were much more intransigent regarding the Dutchman's maneuvers against Lando Norris on the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Twice, on the 10th lap, the Red Bull driver pushed the McLaren driver outside the track limits, with more than questionable braking. A defense that was far too muscular according to the race direction, who decided to grant a 10-second penalty for each of the Batavian's two maneuvers.
Brown tacle Verstappen : “It’s getting a little ridiculous”
Two heavy penalties which relegated Max Verstappen to the back of the pack after his pit stop, before the three-time world champion and championship leader made his way back to 6th place at the finish. At McLaren, a week after the frustration of the lost podium for Lando Norris, we are delighted to see the stricter reaction of the commissioners regarding the Dutchman. Zak Brown notably congratulated the work of the race direction during the Mexican Grand Prix… even if he believes that the penalties imposed on Max Verstappen were not yet “not sufficient” according to him.
“It’s getting a little ridiculous. I applaud the commissioners. Too much is too much! Let's ensure that the races take place in good conditions, calls on McLaren Racing CEO to Sky Sports F1. I think the commissioners are on the spot. The penalties they handed out clearly show that. So I don't think we need to do anything. Just let the commissioners do their job. They did a good job this weekend. »
Thanks to the penalties received by Max Verstappen, Lando Norris did not have to worry about his rival for the rest of the race in Mexico and, finishing second, was able to take 10 points back from the championship leader. “I knew what to expect, declared the Briton after the finish. I didn't want to see this kind of thing, because I respect Max a lot, but I expected this. It was not clean driving. I avoided it and it ended up being a good race for me. »
ALSO READ > Lando Norris on his battle with Verstappen: “It wasn’t clean driving”
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