It’s turning into a penalty-laden Mexico GP for Max Verstappen, who’s just been slapped with a second 10-second time penalty on Lap 19. The reigning champion’s aggressive style crossed the line once again as he forced Lando Norris off track at Turn 8, reigniting their on-track tensions from earlier in the race.
Verstappen’s repeated disregard for the racing rules has put his podium hopes in jeopardy, with the penalties piling up and raising questions about his approach. Now carrying a total of 20 penalty seconds, Verstappen faces an uphill fight in a race where his battles with Norris have become the day’s biggest drama. The latest infraction shows just how high the tensions are—and how costly they may be for Verstappen.