Norris clear: 'Verstappen doesn't make anyone's life easy'

F1 News

Lando Norris on racing with Max Verstappen in Mexico
27 October at 23:45
  • Estéban den Toom

Lando Norris elaborated on his thoughts regarding Max Verstappen's driving in the Mexican Grand Prix. Norris and the Dutchman engaged in a duel for the second week running, but this time, Verstappen took the penalty. In fact, Verstappen picked up two separate ten-second penalties.

Norris was quick to express his thoughts over the team radio. He called the moves dangerous. In the press conference, the McLaren driver expressed his view in more detail.

"I think it's pretty self-explanatory on what happened," Norris responded to a question about what exactly happened. "I did everything I've been told in terms of what the rules are and the guidelines and all of this stuff, yet it just wasn't to be and of course he got some penalties for that. Like I said before in some of the interviews, I go into a race expecting a tough battle with Max."

"It's clear that it doesn't matter if he wins or second. His only job is to beat me in the race. And he'll sacrifice himself to do that, like he did today. But I want to have good battles with him. I want to have those tough battles, like I've seen him have plenty of times, but fair ones. And it's always going to be on the line. It's always going to be tough with Max. He's never going to make anyone's life easy, specially mine at this point of the year, but I think today it was not fair, clean racing and therefore I think he got what he had coming to him," the McLaren driver continued.

Norris was asked if he thought Verstappen was harsher in Mexico than he was in Austin last week. "Probably yes."

Norris: 'Verstappen has nothing to lose'

For Norris, it feels more like Verstappen has nothing to lose, despite being the leader in the world championship. "Today I felt like I just had to avoid collisions and that's not what you feel like you want to do in a race. He's in a very powerful position in the championship. He's a long way ahead. He has nothing to lose. I'm focused on myself. I'm doing my own job, which was a good job today and I'm happy with all of this and I'm happy with my whole weekend. But it's not my job to control him. He knows how to drive. And I'm sure he knows that today was probably a bit over the limit."