Norris claims he's still innocent in Verstappen duel but details change
F1 News
Lando Norris and McLaren have had a few days to process his penalty during last Sunday's United States Grand Prix. The driver and team continue to disagree with the penalty that was handed out but admits he will make a change when racing against the Dutchman in the future.
Norris caught up with Verstappen and engaged in a multi-lap duel. On lap 52, Norris eventually overtook the Dutchman but did so whilst off track at turn 12. He was behind at the apex, and the stewards gave him a five-second penalty. Because he didn't create a five-second gap to Verstappen, Norris officially placed behind him and therefore saw his deficit in the World Championship grow.
How do McLaren reflect on the penalty?
"I still disagree and I think as a team we still disagree. I think the majority of the people who were watching disagreed with the penalty that I got. But I'll make the changes that I need to make, whether it's being more aggressive at times or less aggressive or whatever. I'll do what I think is right," Norris said in Mexico.
"Do I need to make some changes? Yes. I still adapted a little bit more. But is everything I'm doing wrong? Also, it's a no. It's a tough position to be in, because like we saw, Max didn't care if he won or was second or third. His only job was to beat me and he did that. He did a good job from that side and I had a lot of fun and I respected our battle that we had. But yes, he still ended up on top. And to be beating him, there's some little things I need to change," Norris added.
Norris will get another chance to eat into Verstappen's lead in the World Championship in Mexico this weekend. The British driver has a 57-point gap to bridge with five Grands Prix and two sprint races remaining before chequered flag drops in Abu Dhabi. Even if Norris maximises each of those races, he will need the likes of his teammate Oscar Piastri, Ferrari and potentially even Mercedes to help him out by beating Verstappen.
Norris compares the duel between George Russell and Valtteri Bottas.
The Mercedes driver received a five-second time penalty when he pushed his Finnish opponent off the track while overtaking.
"I think what we saw with George's and Bottas’ version in some ways was very similar to ours," Norris said. "I was over a car length ahead of him, so I was no longer the attacking car, he was. I was ahead of Max, so I was having to defend he was the one attacking me and the fact he's gone in too hard and overtaken off the track. I've just maintained my position." The 24-year-old driver believes he was reasonably ahead of Verstappen as the corner approached.
"It's been the main talking point since last weekend. Not just for us, but for everyone. A lot of other drivers didn't agree with it, teams didn't agree with it, but at the same time we're in Mexico and I have to focus on this weekend," Norris concluded.