Verstappen gives “very clear” verdict on Lando Norris’ penalty at the US Grand Prix
Lando Norris was penalized for overtaking Max Verstappen and going off the track at the US Grand Prix
Max Verstappen said the penalty Lando Norris received for overtaking off the track at the US Grand Prix was “very clear”.
Verstappen started second and was running third behind Ferrari when title rival Lando Norris caught up with him in the second stint on fresher tyres. The Dutch people were able to push Norris’s achievements to the 52nd circle when the British used the DRS to build a Red Bull.
However, Westapen departed in the 12th movement from the inside, and while pressing McLaren, Norris planted an accelerator at the exit and took the third position. McLaren told Norris he was leading and should stay there, but the stewards felt Norris had taken the lead and gave him five seconds to improve his time.
Norris claimed after the race that he didn’t understand the stewards’ “hasty decision”, but Verstappen said it was a clear breach of the rules. “I think it was clearly outside the white line,” Verstappen told media including Motorsport Week.
“They did the same thing in 2017 or whatever and that cost me the podium. “It wasn’t easy with the tyres and the situation I was in, so I tried to stay calm and do everything I could to finish the car.
“But overall, I still really enjoyed our fight.”
When asked if he could sympathise with McLaren’s attitude towards the incident at the end of the race, Verstappen replied: “I mean, they’ve been complaining a lot lately but the rules are very clear: you can’t overtake outside the white lines. I’ve been caught for this in the past.
Verstappen denies gravel traps are a viable solution
Norris was also one of several drivers penalized for exceeding track limits at the Circuit of the Americas, reigniting the debate over preventative measures. But Verstappen said the introduction of gravel traps, as was done at the Red Bull Ring earlier this season, was not an acceptable solution for all circuits.
When gravel was suggested as a solution, Verstappen stressed: “I think it would help, but you also have to manage the bikes that are involved in it.” “They don’t like the gravel, so they have to clear it away again.
“Of course, on race days you know there are amateur drivers, professional drivers, and it costs a lot of money when you have to do that. “And not all tracks can do this all year round, so it certainly works, but on the other hand, I’m not sure how sustainable this system is over the course of a season.”
