Max Verstappen believes Lando Norris deserved his penalty. He remembers a similar situation with Kimi Raikkonen in 2017 when he also lost a podium spot.
During the United States race, Norris and Verstappen started side by side. They both battled fiercely but ended up behind Charles Leclerc, with Verstappen eventually overtaking Norris.
“There was space inside, so I went for it,” said Verstappen at the press conference. “The corner is wide, offering choices: go wide or stay tight. I stayed tight and still came out second after turn one. Charles was ahead, faster anyway, so he pulled away. From there, I just focused on my own race.”
Verstappen’s Memory Lane
Though Verstappen was leading Norris, the McLaren driver caught up, sparking an exciting duel. “I did my best,” Verstappen admitted. “My balance wasn’t great; attacking corners was tough. But this track is fun to defend on with many options for racing.”
The duel climaxed when Norris passed Verstappen off-track. Having been in a similar spot before, Verstappen empathizes with Norris’s situation.
“You can’t overtake outside the white line,” Verstappen stated. “I faced the same issue here in 2017 or so and lost my podium that way. I stayed calm and tried my best to finish despite tire troubles and other challenges. But honestly, I enjoyed our battle.”
Fans might think it’s all part of racing drama.
What do you think about these thrilling races?
