Lando Norris says Max Verstappen’s racing was not truthful within the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix and his title rival “acquired what he had coming to him” with the penalties he obtained.
Verstappen was handed a 10s time penalty for forcing Norris off monitor in a battle at Flip 4 — when he was defending the within line in opposition to the McLaren — after which one other 10s penalty for leaving the monitor and gaining a bonus as he took each automobiles huge attempting to re-pass Norris 4 corners later. Norris felt an identical incident in Austin every week in the past went unpunished.
“I believe it’s fairly self-explanatory on what occurred,” Norris mentioned. “I did the whole lot I’ve been advised when it comes to what the foundations are and the rules and all of these things, but it simply wasn’t to be. And, after all, he acquired some penalties for that.
“However … I’m going into each race anticipating a troublesome battle with Max. It’s clear that it doesn’t matter if he wins or second, his solely job is to beat me within the race. He’ll sacrifice himself to do this, like he did as we speak, however I wish to have good battles with him. I wish to have these robust battles, like I’ve seen him have loads of occasions. However truthful ones.
“It’s at all times going to be on the road. It’s at all times going to be robust with Max. He’s by no means going to make anybody’s life straightforward, particularly mine at this level of the yr. However I believe as we speak was simply… It was not truthful, clear racing. Due to this fact, I believe he acquired what he had coming to him.”
Norris says he doesn’t see a necessity to speak to Verstappen about his racing, because the pair preserve an excellent relationship off-track, and that he appreciates the championship chief has the flexibility to stay aggressive defending his 47-point benefit.
“We discuss various things,” he mentioned. “It’s not my job, it’s acquired nothing to do with me in a approach. At present I felt like I simply needed to keep away from collisions and that’s not what you’re feeling such as you wish to do in a race.
“He’s in a really highly effective place within the championship. He’s a good distance forward. He has nothing to lose. Individuals can say it’s the opposite approach round, like he’s acquired the whole lot to lose and it’s all for me. But it surely’s not the case, you understand.
“It’s not for me. I’m targeted on myself. I’m doing my very own job, which was an excellent job as we speak. I’m proud of all of this and I’m proud of my entire weekend, however it’s not my job to manage him. He is aware of learn how to drive, and I’m positive he is aware of that as we speak was most likely a bit over the restrict.”
Ending second to Carlos Sainz by 4.7s in Sunday’s race, Norris believes he truly had the quickest automotive in race trim however misplaced an excessive amount of time early on behind Verstappen.
“I’m proud of P2. Usually I wouldn’t be, however I believe on a day like as we speak, I used to be completely happy,” the Briton mentioned. “Issues regarded like they may go so much worse, particularly the primary a part of the race, so to maintain the automotive in a single piece and to type of preserve the race alive was essential. The tempo was extraordinarily robust.
“A disgrace that we misplaced a lot within the first stint with among the battles that we had. If I used to be a bit extra in there and within the combine then I believe our alternatives may have been even higher. Carlos drove the primary stint very effectively and the hole was already 15s, so I had so much to try to catch up.
“The automotive was robust. Our tempo, particularly within the second stint — probably not the primary, however the second stint — was very, superb and type of gave me a little bit of hope once more that we had been aggressive in comparison with the Ferraris. Till then… They’ve been fairly dominant this weekend, so an excellent race. Would have cherished to be on the highest step and it appears to be like like a cool podium right here. It was a cool podium, however I’m very glad with the P2.”
