Lando Norris has expressed that he wants Max Verstappen to “acknowledge” he went “over the limit” during their latest clash at the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix.
Norris was attempting to overtake Verstappen around the outside at Turn 4 on Lap 10 when the Red Bull driver braked late on the inside and forced the McLaren wide.
But while Norris returned to the track ahead, Verstappen then launched a late dive down the inside into Turn 8 which sent both wide as Charles Leclerc swept through.
Verstappen would be hit with two separate 10-second time penalties over the respective incidents, ensuring he dropped behind Norris when he conducted his pit stop.
Norris, who capitalised on Leclerc making a mistake in the closing stages to seize second place, believes Verstappen’s driving overstepped the mark on this occasion.
“I don’t think I need to say much,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week. “I think it’s pretty self-explanatory on what happened.
“I did everything I’ve been told in terms of what the rules are and all of this stuff. Yet it just wasn’t to be, and of course, he got some penalties for that.
“I go into a race expecting a tough battle with Max. It’s clear that it doesn’t matter if he wins or second, his only job is to beat me in the race.
“He’ll sacrifice himself to do that, like he did today.
“But I want to have good battles with him, you know, I want to have those tough battles, like I’ve seen him have plenty of times, but fair ones.
“And it’s always going to be on the line, it’s always going to be tough with Max.
“He’s never going to make anyone’s life easy, especially mine at this point of the year. But I think today was just, it was not fair, clean racing.”
Verstappen ‘took it a step too far’ in Mexico
The title protagonist’s latest clash followed another close call in the United States last weekend when McLaren was incensed that Verstappen escaped a punishment.
However, Norris has claimed that Verstappen’s actions at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez exceeded the act that also saw them collide in Austria earlier this term.
“Today I think was another level on both of those cases,” he explained. “I was ahead of Max in the braking zone, past the apex.
“I am avoiding crashing today, this is the difference. I think today was a step too far and it was clear that the stewards agreed to that.
“So I don’t see it as a win or anything like this, but, it’s more that I hope Max acknowledges that he took it a step too far.”
Norris won’t hold talks with Verstappen
Norris, though, has denied that he will look to hold a conversation with Verstappen, arguing that it is on the Dutchman to ensure that he races in a responsible manner.
Asked whether he needs to talk to Verstappen amid an incident in consecutive rounds, Norris replied: “It’s not my job, it’s got nothing to do with me in a way.
“But today I felt like I had to avoid collisions. That’s not what you feel like you want to do in a race.
“He’s in a very powerful position in the championship, he’s a long way ahead, he has nothing to lose.
“People can say it’s the other way around, like he’s got everything to lose and it’s all for me, but it’s not the case.
“So it’s not for me, I’m focused on myself, I’m doing my job, which was a good job today, and I’m happy with all of this, and I’m happy with my whole weekend.
“But it’s not my job to control him, he knows how to drive, and I’m sure he knows that today was probably a bit over the limit.”
READ MORE – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ‘not going to cry’ over Mexico F1 penalties
