Max Verstappen , visibly annoyed with the penalties he'd been dealt following the Mexican Grand Prix , brushed off the results with a joke instead. Known for his unyielding competitiveness, Verstappen became embroiled in controversy following incidents with fellow driver Lando Norris that resulted in two 10-second penalties, plus 2 penalty points on his racing license.
Situated at a high altitude in Mexico City, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit presented its unique challenges for the drivers. The thin air affects car performance significantly, testing both engine power and aerodynamics. But these challenges took a back seat amid a tense and gripping race weekend. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz took the win, marking his second win of the 2024 season and helping Ferrari overtake Red Bull in the Constructor's Championship standings. But it was Verstappen that drew focus on the Sunday.
Verstappen's penalties arose from two clashes with Norris. At Turn 4, Verstappen drove aggressively, forcing Norris off the track, and later at Turn 7, executed a risky pass which again pushed the Papaya driver off the racing line. These actions resulted in twin 10-second penalties and two penalty points being added to Verstappen's license, raising his total to six within the rolling year.
Despite these issues, Verstappen responded with a snug towards the governing body, brushing off his punishments.
When asked by Formula 1 about what he would have done differently, he ignored the idea of admitting defeat:
"Maybe get a drink in the pit stop. Yeah. I mean, the engine was off for 20 seconds, so I had enough time. Right."
The decision by the FIA, the governing authority of Formula 1, was firm, noting that these penalties were consistent with adjustments made after the previous United States Grand Prix to driving regulations designed to curb overly aggressive driving tactics.
Red Bull Racing's team principal, Christian Horner, viewed the imposition as excessive. He criticized the severity of the penalties:
"Max did leave the track at Turn Four then at Seven, Lando opened the door very late and both ran off there," he said via Sports Illustrated . "The problem is, I think we're going to get into very dangerous territory of, at what point is a dive bomb going to be OK? I think, really, the FIA and the drivers need to sit down and decide what is acceptable and what isn't. I thought two 10-second [penalties] was a bit on the harsh side today."
Lando Norris, visibly frustrated, did not hold back on his assessment of Verstappen's drivin as he described it as "dangerous".
"I was ahead the whole way through the corner. This guy is dangerous. It's the same as last time. I'll be in the wall in a minute," Norris stated, laying bare his concerns over his team radio during the race.
Sainz's win and the teamwork with Charles Leclerc have positioned Ferrari ahead of Red Bull in the Constructor's Championship, increasing pressure on the Milton Keynes squad as the season begins to draw to an end. The result of these penalties has also narrowed Verstappen's lead in the Drivers' Championship, with rival Lando Norris catching up, as well as Charles Leclerc, making the title race more unpredictable.
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