Red Bull team principal Christian Horner took the unusual step of presenting printed sheets of telemetry to the media to argue against Max Verstappen’s penalties at the Mexico Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz won a contentious race while Lando Norris closed the gap on Verstappen after another furious battle that cost the reigning three-time champion two penalties and shaved 10 points off Verstappen’s lead in the standings.
Norris went round the outside of Verstappen at turn four and was forced wide before the Red Bull driver left the track at turn eight, with Norris again having to leave the circuit.
The stewards hit Verstappen with two separate 10-second penalties for the two corner incidents, with Norris saying “this guy is dangerous” over the team radio.
Afterwards, Horner brought printed sheets of telemetry to his post-race media session to argue against one of Verstappen’s penalties. He also argued that part of the punishments were carry-over from last week’s incidents with Norris, when many thought Verstappen also deserved a penalty, and that F1 is in danger of being overpoliced.
Christian Horner has turned up with graphs to illustrate Lando Norris attempted a divebomb around the outside of Max Verstappen.
Red Bull isn’t pursuing a right of review, but a clarifying of the rulebook.
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“Obviously, there’s been a reaction to last weekend and I think it’s very important for the drivers, stewards to sit down,” Horner said.
“It used to be a reward of the bravest driver to go around the outside. I think we’re in danger of flipping the overtaking laws upside down. We’re overcomplicating things and when you have to revert to an instruction manual for an overtake … it’s something that just needs to be tidied up.”
Horner said Red Bull would not appeal the penalties the way McLaren did this week.
Norris was penalised at the United States Grand Prix for forcing Verstappen off track – a punishment that gave the final spot on the podium to his rival. It also allowed Verstappen to widen his lead in the driver standings to 57 points before the race on Sunday.
The tables were turned at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez when Verstappen was given a 10-second penalty for banging wheels with Norris and forcing him off the track.
“Ten? That’s aggressive,” Verstappen said.
He then was slapped with a second 10-second penalty for gaining position when he left the track for a combined 20-second penalty to be served on his first pit stop.
“That’s fine then. That’s silly, man,” Verstappen radioed.
He pitted from third on Lap 27 and his mechanics could not begin his service until the 20-second penalty was served. He dropped to 15th when he rejoined the race.
Although Verstappen recovered to finish sixth, Norris spoiled what looked to be a Ferrari sweep when he snatched second place from Charles Leclerc with eight laps remaining. The finishes were a 10-point swing for Norris, who now trails Verstappen by 47 points with four races remaining.