Max Verstappen kept his composure after a tense battle with Lando Norris during the 2024 United States Grand Prix, despite the McLaren driver’s overly aggressive move that nearly ended Verstappen’s race. Verstappen, who has been navigating Red Bull’s struggles with their RB20 chassis, managed to fend off Norris and secure a podium finish, even as the fierce on-track tussle saw Norris handed a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits during his attempted overtake.
Although Verstappen won the sprint race earlier in the weekend and started the Grand Prix from the front row, he had a challenging race at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Red Bull’s car lacked the usual performance, leaving Verstappen to defend rather than attack. The battle with Norris was the climax of his race, with Norris aggressively pushing for third place. But Verstappen remained steadfast and cautious when asked to comment on the incident.
“I have my opinion, but I don’t need to say it here,” Verstappen said diplomatically. “I’ll just let the stewards do their thing, and we will analyse that.”
The reigning world champion remained focused on the bigger picture, highlighting the difficulties he faced throughout the race. Verstappen, usually known for his commanding pace, found himself on the back foot, battling not just the competition but also the performance limitations of his car.
“For me, it was quite a difficult race. I didn’t have the pace to attack. It was a tough battle. I tried everything I could to keep [Norris] behind, but in the end, a podium is a great result.”
Norris’ aggressive move saw him briefly overtake Verstappen, but he was forced off the track, leading to the penalty that restored the Red Bull driver to third place. Verstappen found it “weird” that Norris had even attempted such a maneuver from outside the track, expressing surprise at the move while maintaining his calm.
“My God, that was a hard race. I did everything today and defended. It’s weird that you can overtake off track,” Verstappen said.
Despite the race’s challenges, Verstappen walked away with a podium and extended his already dominant lead in the Drivers’ Championship. With only a handful of races remaining, his fourth title seems all but assured. Norris, on the other hand, will need to reflect on his performance, as his desperation for a podium cost him valuable points.
Verstappen’s ability to maintain his composure in the face of aggressive driving and car issues highlights why he remains the championship favorite. While the Dutchman refrained from direct criticism of Norris, his calm approach shows his focus is firmly on the larger prize—a fourth world title.
