Lando Norris, after a controversial penalty at the United States Grand Prix, has acknowledged that his racecraft falls short of title rival Max Verstappen’s. Norris was relegated from third to fourth after a penalty for overtaking off-track, a move he felt wasn’t deserving of punishment. Reflecting on Verstappen’s aggressive defensive style, Norris admitted, “Max is the best in the world in this style of defense and attacking,” but added that he’s keen to learn and close the gap on Verstappen.
The incident in Austin has reignited debates over Formula 1’s racing regulations. Verstappen, who defended his position against Norris by braking late and running off-track, insisted he was merely following the rules. “I don’t make the rules. I just follow them,” said the Dutch driver, who has used this approach since his 2021 title battle with Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton and other drivers, including George Russell, have called for greater clarity, suggesting that Verstappen’s tactics exploit a loophole that unfairly penalizes drivers attempting clean overtakes.
The regulations currently state that if the inside driver’s front axle is ahead at the corner apex, they’re not required to leave room for the rival. However, drivers argue that Verstappen’s maneuver—braking late to secure position while exceeding track limits—makes overtaking him nearly impossible. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc described Verstappen’s moves as “a bit too extreme,” adding that they push the boundaries of fair racing and impact the sport’s overtaking dynamics.
With the Mexico City Grand Prix approaching, several drivers plan to address these issues with the FIA, calling for updates to racing rules that better balance aggressive defense with fair play. Norris, trailing Verstappen by 57 points in the championship, expressed the difficulty of racing against Verstappen’s high-risk strategy: “He has nothing to lose, I have a lot to lose… so he can afford to take bigger risks.”
