Max Verstappen is growing nearer to the number of penalty points that would see him banned after his clashes with Lando Norris in Mexico City.
Red Bull’s star started alongside the man on pole and eventual race winner Carlos Sainz last weekend, just ahead of driver’s championship rival, McLaren’s Norris. However, the battle that had ensued for some time went on to reach a dangerous climax.
One week after the Englishman was penalised for his off-track overtaking of Verstappen in Austin, it was the three-time champion’s turn. Sitting in second, the Dutchman attempted to stave off Norris but forced him well wide on two occasions, incurring two seperate 10-second time penalties.
Ending the race in sixth due to these penalties, with his rival runner-up, Verstappen’s lead at the top of the championship was reduced to 47. And he could be line in line for a more severe punishment should he keep racking up penalty points on his super licence.
Over a 12-month period, one can only rack up 12 or be subjected to a one-race ban. Verstappen currently sits on six, two of which were handed to him after Mexico.
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was the first to fall foul of the rule – which was introduced in 2014 – earlier in the season. The only star to rank above Verstappen regarding points is Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who holds eight.
It is worth noting that two of the Dutchman’s points that he received for forcing Charles Leclerc off during the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix will expire on the 19th of November, with just the Brazilian Grand Prix to go before this occurs. This likely means that he will avoid any potential ban this season, but still be at risk during the next.
Verstappen was heavily penalised for his driving in Mexico (
Getty Images)
The incidents in Mexico City occurred on Lap 10. With Sainz leading and Verstappen and Norris scrapping for second, the pair entered Turn Four. Norris, shooting up the outside, was covered off by Verstappen in a dangerous fashion, with a collision inches from occurring and the McLaren having to go off the track.
Emerging in front of Verstappen, Norris entered Turn Eight. The Red Bull driver’s dangerous subsequent lunge up the inside, evidently desperate to regain the position, saw both cars veer off this time, and once again, the pair were inches from disaster.
Norris has been closing on Verstappen in the drivers’ championship
Immediately after, Norris could be heard on his team radio uttering: “This guy is dangerous. I will be in the wall in a minute.”
Stewards slapped Verstappen with penalties for both of these incidents, dropping him out of contention and leaving him desperately clawing back positions and championship points on his challenging rival.
Verstappen’s other two points were incurred for his collision with Norris in Austria, and with four races left to go this season, the duo’s battle at the summit promises to produce more sparks and bad blood.
