Lando Norris narrowed Max Verstappen’s championship lead to 47 points, branding his rival “dangerous” amid escalating tensions at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Despite receiving two 10-second penalties for incidents involving Norris, Verstappen managed to finish in sixth place. Norris secured a strong second, overtaking Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc with nine laps remaining, while Carlos Sainz claimed a commanding victory for Ferrari.
Verstappen’s penalties came for forcing Norris off the track during an incident at Turn Four on lap 10, and for leaving the track and gaining an advantage four corners later. The Red Bull driver faced a different interpretation of the racing rules compared to the previous weekend’s United States Grand Prix.
In Austin, Norris was penalized for gaining an advantage after running off track while attempting to overtake Verstappen, who escaped punishment for what many felt was an aggressive maneuver that pushed Norris wide. Following discussions among drivers and the FIA about the need for revised racing guidelines, Verstappen was penalized in Mexico City.
Although the rules remained unchanged leading into this race, stewards clearly believed there was a shift in how Verstappen’s driving was perceived, reflecting the concerns voiced by other drivers. As a result, Verstappen expressed his frustration, stating that “in terms of racing, nothing changes” for him, despite the evolving context.