Jos Verstappen has commented on the double penalty received by his son Max for borderline moves against Lando Norris in the Mexican GP at the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. Max Verstappen’s racing conduct has become a major topic in Formula 1 recently.
The Dutch driver’s style, previously heavily criticized in 2021 by Lewis Hamilton for pushing boundaries in duels, was highlighted by incidents at Jeddah and Interlagos, where F1 will soon return. Over the past two years, it seemed that the three-time world champion’s on-track intensity had somewhat calmed, but the controversial moments in Austin and Mexico City have reignited the issue, and the FIA now appears unwilling to overlook it.
The double penalty during the Mexican race illustrates this stance, with Max Verstappen initially penalized 10 seconds for pushing Lando Norris off at Turn 4, followed by another penalty for gaining an advantage in a similar incident at Turn 7, again involving Norris.
A Matter of Bias?
After the adrenaline wore off, Jos Verstappen didn’t hold back from commenting on the situation within 24 hours, naturally defending his son.
“The FIA should closely examine the makeup of the stewards, who they place there, and whether there is any appearance of a conflict of interest,” the Dutchman told *De Telegraaf*. “For example, former drivers who may favor certain drivers.” – he pointed out.
In Mexico, the stewards included former F1 driver Johnny Herbert, veteran official Tim Mayer, lawyer Loïc Bacquelaine, and Mexican official Alfonso Oros Trigueros.
“Looking at Sunday’s actions, Max’s second move (at Turn 7) was maybe a bit much,” Jos admitted – “But (Norris) lets it happen. We can debate it endlessly, but it won’t change anything. Max has to drive as he sees fit. He must because the car isn’t good enough, and he’s doing all he can to win the title. His driving style won’t change.”
“As for Max, the most important factor is that the car’s baseline isn’t strong. This was clear from his teammate’s performance. Even Haas was faster than Red Bull during the race.” – concluded the Dutch former racing driver, who competed in Formula One between 1994 and 2003.
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