Red Bull has fiercely defended Max Verstappen following his two 10-second penalties in the Mexican Grand Prix, arguing that Lando Norris “wouldn’t have made the corner” during their controversial battle at Turn 4. The penalties, both related to incidents on Lap 10, have sparked debate within the paddock, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner suggesting that F1’s overtaking rules need re-evaluation.
The clash began as Norris used DRS to gain momentum on Verstappen, attempting to pass on the outside of Turn 4. Verstappen defended his position by running the McLaren wide, leading to Norris cutting the corner to retain his spot. The stewards determined that Verstappen had not left sufficient room, resulting in his first penalty.
Horner, however, argued that data shows Norris entered Turn 4 carrying “15 kilometers an hour” more speed than his fastest lap, suggesting that he would have overshot the corner regardless. “If you look at the GPS data, Lando was braking later and at a higher speed than on his fastest lap,” Horner explained. “He wouldn’t have made the corner. He would have run off track.”
Horner cautioned that this decision could encourage drivers to initiate risky outside moves in hopes of forcing penalties on the defending driver. “It used to be a reward of the bravest to go around the outside,” Horner said, warning that overtaking laws could become skewed. “Drivers will try to get their nose ahead at the apex and claim they must be given room on the exit. Every karting circuit in the world teaches that the driver on the inside controls the corner.”
Horner did, however, acknowledge that Verstappen’s second penalty — stemming from an aggressive lunge on Norris at Turn 7 that sent both cars wide — was more justified. “The Turn 7 incident is different. Max was expecting Lando to yield, and they both went off. I can understand why there would be a penalty there, but I think the frustration came from Lando not giving back the place.”
As the season heads toward a heated finale, Red Bull is calling for a review of the overtaking guidelines, with Horner urging drivers and stewards to agree on “sensible” standards to avoid more controversy. With high-stakes battles ahead, Verstappen and Norris’s on-track rivalry could further test the limits of F1’s evolving racecraft rules.
