Lando Norris says his battle with Max Verstappen in Mexico City was “not fair, clean racing”, adding that the Dutchman “got what he had coming to him” when he was penalised by the FIA stewards.
Just seven days after their controversial incident in Austin triggered a debate about driving guidelines Verstappen and Norris were again involved in a fight as the McLaren driver unsuccessfully tried to find a way past.
Verstappen was first docked 10 seconds for forcing another driver off the track, and then a further 10 seconds for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Norris eventually finished second behind winner Carlos Sainz, while Verstappen had to settle for sixth.
“I think it’s pretty self-explanatory on what happened,” said Norris when asked about the incidents.
“I did everything I’ve been told in terms of what the rules are and the guidelines and all of this stuff, yet it just wasn’t to be. And, of course, he got some penalties for that.
“I go into every race expecting a tough battle with Max. It’s clear that it doesn’t matter if he wins or is second, his only job is to beat me in the race. And he’ll sacrifice himself to do that, like he did today.
“I want to have good battles with him. I want to have those tough battles, like I’ve seen him have plenty of times. But fair ones. It’s always going to be on the line. It’s always going to be tough with Max. He’s never going to make anyone’s life easy, especially mine at this point of the year.
“I think today it was not fair, clean racing. And therefore, I think he got what he had coming to him.”
Norris rejected the suggestion that he should talk to Verstappen.
“It’s not my job,” he said. “It’s got nothing to do with me in a way. Today I felt like I just had to avoid collisions, and that’s not what you feel like you want to do in a race.
“He’s in a very powerful position in the championship. He’s a long way ahead. He has nothing to lose. People can say it’s the other way around, like he’s got everything to lose and it’s all for me.
“But it’s not the case. So it’s not for me. I’m focused on myself. I’m doing my own job, which was a good job today.
“And I’m happy with all of this, and I’m happy with my whole weekend. But it’s not my job to control him. He knows how to drive. And I’m sure he knows that today was probably a bit over the limit.”
Asked to compare the Mexican battle with previous incidents with Verstappen in the Austrian and US GPs Norris made it clear that he viewed Sunday’s action at a more serious level.
“Austria, I don’t think anyone should have got a penalty,” he said. “Austin, I don’t think anyone should have got a penalty. Yeah, let’s say we both kind of did things wrong. The majority of people, the majority of drivers, feel like that was the same thing.
“That’s why you’ve heard of some of the rule changes that might be coming, and those types of things. It’s because there’s a common consensus that it wasn’t correct, what happened in the result that I had last weekend.
“Today, I think, was another level on both of those cases. t was another level on both. I was ahead of Max in the braking zone, past the apex. I am avoiding crashing today. This is the difference.
“I can’t speak for him, and maybe he’ll say something different. But I think today was a step too far from both of those, and it was clear that the stewards agreed with that. So I don’t see it as a win or anything like this, but it’s more that I hope Max acknowledges that he took it a step too far.”
Adam Cooper F1 