Norris and Verstappen Clash Again as McLaren Pushes for Penalty Review
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen’s close battle at the United States Grand Prix last weekend has sparked a wave of controversy around Formula 1’s overtaking rules, especially after Norris received a five-second penalty that demoted him from third to fourth place.
Why was Norris penalised?
The issue revolves around F1’s rules, which state that a driver who has the inside position at the corner’s apex does not have to yield space to the car on the outside.
Norris attempted to overtake Verstappen around the outside at Turn 12 during the race’s closing stages, but Verstappen ran wide, forcing Norris off-track.
The FIA penalised Norris for gaining an advantage while leaving the track, even though both drivers veered off.
"Max is the best in the world in this style of defence and attacking," Norris admitted, adding that he was “not quite at the level” needed to counter Verstappen’s tactics effectively, although he felt he didn’t deserve the penalty, saying that Verstappen’s driving during the incident was “not how racing should be".
McLaren has filed a formal request for a review with the FIA, hoping to better understand the penalty.
Verstappen defends his driving
Max Verstappen defended his driving style, pointing to the rules that he claims simply allow him to race hard.
“It’s how the rules are written. I don’t make the rules. I just follow them as much as I can,” he stated, explaining that his approach to racing leverages the rules to their fullest.
Verstappen’s tactics have raised questions among other drivers, with many drivers arguing that Verstappen uses this rule to his advantage by braking late, holding the inside, and running wide on the exit, making it almost impossible to pass him cleanly.
There has also been speculation that Verstappen wouldn’t have used this driving method if it wasn’t against his title rival, with Mercedes’ George Russell stating, “He’s happy to drive in that manner against his title rival,” claiming he wouldn’t make the same move against a non-title rival.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also commented, calling Verstappen’s defensive driving “a bit too extreme.”
Hearing to take place on Friday to discuss current rule
This isn’t the first time Verstappen’s style has stirred debate; the incident has been compared to his aggressive tactics in the 2021 season against Lewis Hamilton, with some drivers feeling the current rules give him too much leeway.
While Norris has embraced the chance to learn from the incident, he maintains the current rule framework needs revision to create fairer overtaking opportunities.
"I just don’t think I was in the wrong," he said. "It’s not that I think either of us deserved a penalty, but we both did what we had to in the moment.”
Williams driver Alex Albon suggested a rule adjustment for cases where both drivers go off track, noting, “If you end up going off track yourself, there should be some kind of fallback.”
The FIA has yet to release any new information regarding the review, but the drivers are set to discuss the rule interpretation at the Mexico City Grand Prix with a hearing to take place on Friday. As F1 heads into the final stretch of the season, the calls for a rule change could reshape how drivers approach high-stakes racing in the future.
