Max Verstappen dismisses criticism of driving style after Mexico penalties
Verstappen remains unfazed by criticism following Mexico Grand Prix penalties
SAO PAULO, Brazil — Max Verstappen has confidently brushed off criticisms surrounding his aggressive driving style after incurring double penalties amounting to 20 seconds at last weekend’s Mexico Grand Prix.
During the intense battle with title rival Lando Norris, Verstappen was penalized twice for separate incidents on a single lap, drawing sharp remarks from both his peers and commentators. The stewards’ decisions cited Verstappen for forcing Norris off-track at Turn 4 and later, at Turn 7, for gaining an advantage by pushing Norris wide.
Norris did not mince words post-race, describing Verstappen’s maneuvers as “dangerous.” Former F1 driver and current Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle echoed this sentiment, warning that such tactics could potentially "taint" Verstappen's legacy.
When questioned if he would reconsider his approach ahead of this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen was unyielding. “Yeah, I've heard that before in my career. It's my tenth year in Formula 1. I think I know what I'm doing,” he remarked.
Despite the penalties, Verstappen defended the integrity of his racing, emphasizing his dedication to achieving the best possible outcomes. “I think it's just you win some, you lose some. That's how it is in racing in general. And yeah, I like to win. I don't like to lose.”
Further criticism came from former champion Damon Hill, who questioned whether Verstappen’s style was “capable” of fair competition. Verstappen dismissed these views bluntly, “I don't listen to those individuals. I just do my thing. I'm a three-time world champion. I think I know what I'm doing.”
He added, “You know, some people are just being very annoying and I know who these people are. I don't really pay a lot of attention to them anyway and I think I've got to this stage in my career with the right people supporting me and making my own decisions.”
In the aftermath of the controversial incidents, the FIA has announced plans to consult with drivers to refine racing rules, aiming to provide stewards with clearer guidelines. Verstappen, while acknowledging the complexity of perfect regulation, criticized the current state of over-regulation in the sport.
"Sometimes they work for you, sometimes they work against you. I think it's never going to be perfect because even if you remove rules, then you get into a battle, then you want more rules because it's not clear what is allowed or not,” he stated. “Then when you have too many rules, you want less rules. It just keeps on going left and right all the time.
"Do I think it's overregulated? Probably yes. I mean, in general, the rulebook is only getting bigger and bigger every single year. I don't think that's always the right way forward."
The Brazilian Grand Prix will be another test for Verstappen as he continues to assert his unyielding racing style amid growing scrutiny and evolving regulations.
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