Lando Norris: Max Verstappen aware he "did wrong" in Mexico GP clash

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Lando Norris comments on Mexico Grand Prix controversy with Max Verstappen.

Lando Norris has articulated his sentiments regarding his recent altercations with Max Verstappen during the Mexico Grand Prix, asserting that Verstappen is aware he "did wrong" in their contested encounters on the track.

The race saw Verstappen receiving two 10-second penalties for separate incidents involving Norris. Despite these setbacks, Verstappen, a three-time world champion, managed to finish sixth. Norris, conversely, clinched second place, narrowing the gap between them in the standings to 47 points.

Norris, who had to take evasive actions twice to avoid collisions, criticized Verstappen's maneuvers as "dangerous."

Reflecting on the post-race situation, Norris stated that there has been no direct discussion between him and Verstappen regarding the incidents in Mexico, contrasting with their private conversation following a collision in Austria.

"No, we haven't spoken. I don't think we need to. I've got nothing to say," Norris remarked. "I still have a lot of respect for Max and everything he does. Not respect for what he did last weekend, but respect for him as a person and also what he's achieved."

Norris emphasized that it is not his place to correct Verstappen's actions:

"But it's not for me to speak to him. I'm not his teacher, I'm not his mentor or anything like that. Max knows what he has to do, he knows that he did wrong. Deep down he does and it's for him to change, not for me."

Acknowledging his own approach to racing, Norris admitted that at times he has not been aggressive enough in his interactions with Verstappen. His strategy has been to avoid collisions and ensure he finishes races.

"I think I've always had the mentality to want to race fair and clean and sometimes I've been, I think I probably said it last weekend, on the too kind side, whether I was attacking or defending and things like that," Norris explained. "But I think I've always made good decisions from that side and sometimes I've paid the price for not being aggressive enough. But the rest of it is not up to me."

Norris underscored his proficiency in preserving the car's integrity in races:

"But I know how to keep the car in one piece. That's something I've done for a while. Even when you don't realise it, there are times when you have to avoid a potential crash and maybe you don't see it behind the TV and things like that, but inside the car you know, I'm only here because I avoided this or I've done that or avoided this person or that person."

Norris's comments underline a fundamental principle of his racing ethos, seeking a balance between competitiveness and safeguarding the sport's spirit of fairness and safety.

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