Lewis Hamilton did not know what was going on when he saw a cloud of smoke going up at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, but he had a hunch that it had something to do with Max Verstappen. The seven-time world champion made the right assumption, as Verstappen was actually involved in two clashes during an eventful Mexican GP race, with Lando Norris on the receiving end each time.
What Happened Between Verstappen and Norris in the Mexican GP?
Verstappen was eventually penalized with a 10-second time penalty for the off-track incident with McLaren. The stewards deemed that he had gained a lasting advantage by forcing Norris off the track.
As per pre-race odds, Norris and Verstappen were the second and third likeliest racers to win the Mexican Grand Prix. Ferrari ace Carlos Sainz, who was the bookies’ favorite to win at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, lived up to the hype and became the new Mexican GP champion.
That was not the only penalty Verstappen suffered in the race. The Red Bull driver was also punished for his push on Norris at Turn 4. In total, Verstappen had to sit out for 20 seconds and stay content with a sixth place finish.
Despite the repeated interruptions, Norris managed to finish second, taking 4.705 seconds more than Sainz. That said, the British driver would feel he could have won the race if Verstappen had not unlawfully stopped him twice.
What Did Hamilton Say About the Incident?
Though he admitted he hadn’t yet seen a replay of the Turn 7 incident, it came as no shock to him that his Dutch nemesis played a role in the commotion up ahead.
After his fourth-place finish, Hamilton talked to reporters about the incident. The Mercedes driver said he did not see anything, but once he saw the smoke, he had a gut feeling that it was Verstappen.
Hamilton made no attempt to hide his smile when talking about Verstappen’s antics on the racecourse.
The 39-year-old is no stranger to Verstappen’s racing mindset. Even though bookmakers assigned Hamilton the shortest odds to take home the 2021 F1 World Championship, Verstappen beat him to it.
The duo treated F1 fans with a fierce on-track rivalry that year, but it has somewhat fizzled out lately. Hamilton has not been a regular challenger for the crown in recent times, so Verstappen has taken the fight elsewhere.
While ‘Mad Max’ remains in pole position to add another F1 World Championship title to his name, Hamilton has dropped out of the picture. Punters who have regularly bet on Hamilton winning races this season have seen their faith rewarded on just two occasions.
Hamilton has suffered some underwhelming results this season. In the Canadian GP, for example, bookies with the best sportsbook bonuses in Canada labeled the British icon as one of the top favorites to win. After the race, however, he told reporters that he had the worst race in his career.
On paper, it wasn’t a terrible performance. He finished fourth behind Verstappen, Norris and George Russel. However, he felt that he needed to go back to the drawing board, because he believed it was a race Mercedes could have won.
Did Verstappen Cross a Line?
The Mexican Grand Prix fiasco followed hot on the heels of a late-race controversy in Texas, which, unsurprisingly, also featured Verstappen and Norris. With this becoming a norm, should sportsbooks consider markets for Verstappen forcing Norris wide during the races?
On a serious note, this has sparked a strong debate about the inconsistent application of driving standards. Hamilton highlighted the lack of consequences for Verstappen’s risky maneuvers, suggesting a double standard in how certain drivers are penalized.
“It’s always been a gray area,” Hamilton said before sitting behind the wheel at the Mexican capital. “That’s why he’s got away with it for so long.
“I experienced it many times with Max,” he continued. “You shouldn’t be able to just launch the car up the inside and be ahead and then go off, and still hold the position.”
Verstappen’s cautious responses after the Mexican Grand Prix suggested that he realized that his tactics against Lando Norris had been excessively aggressive.
He accepted the penalties, regardless of his personal opinion. Verstappen only said that he believes a 20-second penalty was harsh. Other than that, he remained tight-lipped on the matter.
Conclusion
Over the years, Max Verstappen’s relentless and forceful driving approach has helped him achieve remarkable success. But his recent behaviors have prompted his peers to speak out against his uncompromising style. So, he might have to tone down his aggressiveness in future races.
