In a tense turn of events at the Mexican Grand Prix, reigning World Champion Max Verstappen faced not one, but two 10-second penalties for contentious maneuvers against McLaren’s Lando Norris on lap 10. Verstappen’s penalties, given for forcing Norris off the track at Turn 4 and then running wide to maintain his position, have significantly impacted the championship leaderboard and opened a window of opportunity for Norris.

After the race, Lando Norris didn’t miss the chance to take a jab at Verstappen. Speaking with a confident smirk, he said, “With Max halfway to a race ban, it looks like I’ll be the new champion soon.” The stewards, who imposed these penalties, cited Verstappen’s actions as a clear violation of the International Sporting Code, Appendix L, Chapter IV, Article 2 b), which led them to dock him further with two penalty points. The ruling determined that Norris’s initial maneuver was “done in a safe and controlled manner,” but was only thwarted when Verstappen forced him off-track.

The penalties left Verstappen in a lower-than-usual sixth-place finish after his recovery, while Norris managed to secure an impressive second place, reducing Verstappen’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship to just 47 points. The intense rivalry between Verstappen and Norris continues to heat up, with Norris adding, “With each race, it feels like the championship is shifting. If he keeps making mistakes, it’s my gain.”

Verstappen’s lead, though still significant, now appears more vulnerable, especially with his accumulation of penalty points bringing him closer to a one-race suspension. As Formula 1 heads into the final races of the season, all eyes are on the brewing battle between these two fierce competitors.