Lando Norris reacts to Max Verstappen duel in Austin: “He went off track too, but I don’t make the rules”. Lando Norris reflects on the controversial incident that decided the battle for the USA GP podium.

Podium lost
Third across the finish line, but not on the podium. Lando Norris’s United States GP ended with a bitter taste, as he dropped to fourth place from yesterday’s pole position, receiving a five-second penalty for overtaking Max Verstappen outside track limits, leading to a controversial sanction from the stewards. The McLaren driver also paid the price for yet another start mistake and, above all, for losing so much time without being able to overtake his direct rival for the title in the final part of the race.

The analysis of the incident
Perhaps for these reasons, when interviewed by Sky Sports F1, Lando Norris did not push too hard against the stewards’ decision, though he made it clear he didn’t agree with it. “He went wide too, he rejoined and gained an advantage,” said Lando Norris, also highlighting the not particularly quick timing of his penalty. “[Max] defends by going off track and overtakes by going off track,” added the Englishman while analyzing his rival’s maneuver, “but I’m not going to complain, he defended well and drove well,” he acknowledged.

“I don’t make the rules”
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” the McLaren driver finally admitted, now only 22 points ahead of Charles Leclerc in the 2024 Formula 1 championship, “otherwise it could have come a bit earlier. I tried. [Verstappen] went off track too, and if he went off track it means he entered the corner too fast and gained an advantage. But I don’t make the rules.” – the British driver concluded at the end of the United States Grand Prix in Austin.