For the second consecutive race weekend, Max Verstappen’s aggressive racing style has sparked controversy, this time costing him crucial points at the Mexican Grand Prix. Following a defensive move in Austin that tested the limits of the rules, Verstappen crossed the line on Sunday, earning two 10-second penalties for forcing title rival Lando Norris off track. Despite the setback, Verstappen remains resolute, although Red Bull is now left grappling with not only penalties but also an alarming drop in race pace.
“The problem is, when you’re slower, you’re being put into those kinds of positions,” Verstappen explained to Sky Sports F1. “I’m not going to give up easily. Even without the penalties, we had no chance to fight at the front today, and that’s what worries me most,” he added.
Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner echoed Verstappen’s frustration with the penalties, which dropped the Dutch driver to sixth while Norris capitalized to finish second. “I thought two 10-second penalties were a bit on the harsh side,” Horner stated. He further cautioned against a new “dangerous territory” in F1 if the FIA doesn’t clarify rules around aggressive moves. “I think we need to sit down with the FIA and drivers to determine what is acceptable.”
Aside from the penalties, Red Bull’s lack of race pace in Mexico was concerning. “We’ll look and learn from this race, but more for us today was that we just didn’t have the pace,” Horner admitted, stressing that the team’s priority is solving these performance issues ahead of the next race.
Despite the challenging weekend, Verstappen still holds a 47-point lead in the championship over Norris with only four races remaining. However, as the title fight tightens and tensions rise, Verstappen and Red Bull will need to regroup quickly to ensure they stay ahead in what promises to be a thrilling season finale.
