The rivalry continues
After the fierce battle and ensuing controversy in Austin between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, the two main contenders for the world title faced off again in Mexico City, and once more, there were controversial incidents. This time, it was the three-time world champion who paid the price, receiving harsh penalties for two maneuvers that obstructed the Englishman’s overtaking attempts.
Close calls
The incidents occurred within the first few laps. In the first, the Red Bull driver forced his rival onto the grass to defend his 2nd place at the Turn 4-5 chicane, despite not having the advantage at the apex. Soon after, the Dutchman tried to reclaim his second position with an aggressive move in Turn 8, pushing Lando Norris off the track again and ending up in the runoff area himself. These two actions cost the reigning champion a total of 20 seconds in penalties.
Avoiding risks
Due to the penalties and a later error by Charles Leclerc ten laps from the finish, Lando Norris ended the Mexican GP in 2nd place, denying Ferrari a potential one-two and, more importantly, narrowing the championship gap with Max Verstappen. “It was a good race, but very tough,” he explained. “In the early laps, I just tried to stay in the race and avoid incidents. I knew what to expect with Verstappen and tried to steer clear of him. In the end, I believe we were probably the fastest car today. We’re doing an excellent job as a team, so we’ll keep our heads down, stay focused, and keep pushing. A big thank you to the entire team and the fans, who make this race so enjoyable.” – he pointed out.
Mission accomplished: finishing incident-free
Lando Norris gave a similar post-race comment to Sky Sport F1, reiterating his main goal of finishing the GP without any contacts. “I focused on my race and tried to concentrate on that, which was the only thing I could control,” he said. “I can only do my job and what I need to do. The start was challenging, as were the first five laps. But I think I did a good job avoiding what needed to be avoided and keeping the car intact, without damage. I couldn’t do better than 2nd today, so it was a positive day. I would have liked a few more laps because Carlos Sainz’s car was getting bigger and bigger ahead of me, but I’m happy because it could have gone a lot worse. It was a good performance considering where we started.” – the British driver concluded at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix at the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.
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