Verstappen in the Hot Seat: ‘I Have the Wrong Passport’

The Fallout from the Norris-Verstappen Incident

Max Verstappen occasionally sighs when the next question about the incident with Lando Norris from the previous week in the United States is thrown at him. He believes the British media is particularly biased regarding the situation. “In that sense, I feel like I have the wrong passport,” is how Verstappen puts it.

The Aftermath of the American Grand Prix

Predictably, discussions in Formula 1 often follow a familiar pattern, especially in the wake of contentious events. Just a week after the dramatic conclusion of the American Grand Prix, where Lando Norris lost third place to Verstappen due to a time penalty related to an ‘illegal’ overtaking maneuver, the focus remains on this controversy as they gather in Mexico.

Norris reiterates his stance that it should have been Verstappen receiving a penalty instead. McLaren has lodged an appeal against the decision made in Austin. “I was a car length ahead and was no longer the one attacking but Max was. I haven’t spoken with Max yet, but like my team, I still disagree with the ruling,” Norris stated. “Many other drivers and teams shared the same sentiment.”

Insights from Charles Leclerc

.comike Norris, Charles Leclerc, who was the winner in Austin, has no qualms about Verstappen’s driving style. He argues that this very competitiveness is what makes racing against Max exciting. “We’ve always agreed that we want to race each other hard,” Leclerc supports Verstappen’s viewpoint. “It was difficult to defend against Lando, but I did everything I could. Ultimately, due to the penalty, we ended up ahead.”

Race officials decided that Norris had overtaken Verstappen outside the track limits, resulting in a five-second time penalty for him. This leads to discussions among several drivers in Mexico about whether the regulations are becoming increasingly convoluted. “I think we’ve reached a point where you need a book of all the rules in the car,” Verstappen commented. “That book has been getting thicker over the years, making the sport feel overregulated. I understand the need for rules, but when one is discarded and more incidents occur, people demand more regulations. It’s a never-ending cycle.”

The Role of Media and Personal Biases

The ongoing controversy is like catnip for the British press, which remains a dominant force in the paddock. Adrian Newey, the former lead designer for Red Bull, recently acknowledged his somewhat ‘chauvinistic’ bias towards Verstappen. “I feel like I have the wrong passport,” Verstappen remarked. “Don’t get me wrong; I am very proud of my passport, but if we’re talking about the media treatment, I wish I had a different one.”

Verstappen also addressed comments made by fellow British driver George Russell, who suggested that the world champion races harder against Norris due to their rivalry in the championship. “I disagree with that. George should focus more on himself and stop worrying so much about others,” Verstappen advised. “Enjoy your life; don’t always stress about racing. If you’re fighting for the title, you must perform at your best in every race. My aim is always to achieve the maximum result because that’s why I’m here.”