Norris: Verstappen 'knows he did wrong deep down'

In the aftermath of the Mexico City Grand Prix, McLaren driver Lando Norris has voiced concerns regarding Max Verstappen's conduct during their race battle. Norris stated that Verstappen "knows he did wrong" following the Red Bull driver's two 10-second penalties for his actions against Norris.

Norris emphasized, "Max knows what he has to do. He knows he did wrong, deep down he does. And it's for him to change, not me." He acknowledged Verstappen's skill as a driver, remarking, "Max is one of the most capable drivers on the grid, if not the most. He knows what he can and can't do and what the limits are."

Heading into the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Verstappen holds a 47-point lead over Norris, with four races remaining in the season. The Dutch driver has expressed his annoyance at criticisms regarding his defensive driving and stated he pays little attention to such feedback. Verstappen remarked, "I don't listen to those individuals. I just do my thing. I am a three-time world champion. I think I know what I'm doing." He added, "Some people are just being very annoying. I know who these people are and I don't really pay a lot of attention to them."

Norris expressed hope for a "cleaner battle" in future races but acknowledged it was not within his control. Verstappen's racing tactics have come under scrutiny following two notable incidents in recent races. During the United States Grand Prix, Norris received a five-second penalty for overtaking off the track, a situation that many drivers discussed afterward, arguing that Verstappen's driving had contributed to the incident.

In Mexico, Norris again found himself forced off track while attempting to overtake Verstappen. The race officials ruled that Verstappen had forced Norris off during this maneuver, resulting in his first penalty. He was penalized a second time shortly after for gaining an advantage by leaving the track.

When asked if he would change his approach in the future, Verstappen responded, "It's my 10th year in F1. I think I know what I'm doing." He also commented on the complexity of racing regulations, stating, "It is never going to be perfect because even if you remove rules, if you get into a battle you want more rules because it's not clear what is allowed or not, then when you have too many rules you want less rules." Verstappen believes the rule book is becoming increasingly complicated each year.

Additionally, Verstappen referenced a perceived inconsistency in the FIA's enforcement of regulations, noting his punishment for swearing during a news conference while no action was taken against Ferrari's Charles Leclerc for similar behavior.

Reports suggest that Verstappen may face a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming race due to exceeding his engine allocation. However, he could not confirm this, stating, "I haven't heard anything yet. I know I will have to take one at some point, so we'll see." Red Bull has yet to comment on the situation.