What Max Verstappen said about Lando Norris in the cooldown room after United States GP speaks volumes
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris were involved in a feisty end to the United States Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen’s comments on Lando Norris from inside the cooldown room have emerged.
On Sunday, Ferrari dominated the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas as Charles Leclerc finished first ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz.
However, the headlines were made by Verstappen and Norris after their feisty battle in the closing stages of the race.
The pair nearly came together in the opening lap with Norris left fuming after being forced off the track.
With four laps remaining, Verstappen and Norris came close again as they battled for the last spot on the podium.
Heading into Turn 12, Norris was ready to pounce with the help of DRS but was squeezed by the Red Bull.
As a result, both cars went off track and Norris rejoined in third place ahead of the reigning Formula 1 world champion.
However, the drama did not stop there as the stewards decided Norris gained an advantage off-track and handed the 24-year-old a five-second penalty, which demoted him into fourth place after the chequered flag.
After the race, Verstappen spoke about his battle with Norris in the cooldown room alongside Ferrari pair Leclerc and Sainz.
He said: “We were just fighting. So he got me in [Turn] 12, outside the track limits, because we both went wide. And then I think that was his last strike with the track limits, so he got a five-second penalty.”
When Sainz questioned whether Norris pulled away, the Red Bull driver replied: “Four seconds. Like 4.1. I was pushing flat out and I had traffic in the last lap, so it was quite difficult.
“We were not so fast today.”
Speaking about the incident after the race, Norris said: “He’s overtaken by going off track, so I don’t know what I’m meant to do. He defends by going off track, he overtakes by going off track.
“So, if he goes off the track, clearly he’s gone in way too hard and also gained an advantage by doing what he did. But I don’t make the rules.”
F1 will return this weekend with the Mexican Grand Prix taking place at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
