Max Verstappen, synonymous with success and domination, is currently aching for a race win. The drift of events has put Red Bull and Verstappen in a vulnerable spot as they endure a ten-race winless streak. What started in Miami as a slight misadjustment has become a festering wound. The technical woes are not just hampering Red Bull’s on-track performance, but they have also negatively impacted Verstappen’s racing approach.
The team was overtaken first by McLaren and then by Ferrari in the Constructors standings, dropping them down to the third spot. Meanwhile, McLaren’s young sensation Lando Norris is en route to dethrone Max Verstappen in a Drivers Cup battle. Therefore, the Austrian outfit is under immense pressure for the first time in the last three years. This pressure has been reflected in the Dutchman’s aggressive racing style, which has been a hot topic in the last two weekends. A former world champion recently schooled Verstappen after his face with Lando Norris.
Former World Champion Calls Out Max Verstappen For “Unfair” Driving
Max Verstappen is somehow clinging on to the top spot in the Driver’s Championship points table. Meanwhile, Lando Norris has been ambitiously closing in, now just 47 points behind. The top two world title contenders were up against each other during the US GP and then in Mexico. In Austin, both the racers went off track on lap 52, but Norris emerged ahead of Verstappen, which is not allowed. A 5-second penalty was added to his finish timing, as he missed a podium finish.
The face-off got even more intense during the Mexican GP, as on lap 10, Norris made a desperate move to overtake the reigning world champion. The Briton tried to run through the outside of Verstappen’s RB20, but the Dutchman restricted his maneuver. Thereupon, Verstappen gave him no space to overtake, and Norris was forced to go off-track, yet again overtaking his rival outside the white line. This time, Verstappen took the matter into his own hands and made an aggressive move to regain the spot. Consequently, FIA handed him two 10-second penalties, as he finished at P6.
Damion Hill analyzed the fierce battle between Norris and Verstappen on the Sky Sports Podcast. Hill highlighted that Verstappen blocked all the possible options for Norris, as the aerial footage clearly suggests he left no room for the MCL38. However, Hill also blamed Norris for not coming through, as he questioned, “Is it what we want to see as a sport?” Further, the former world champion criticized Verstappen’s aggressive approach, claiming he cannot race fairly.
Max Verstappen Reveals Bigger Red Bull Concern Beyond His 20-Second Penalty
During an interaction with F1.com, Max Verstappen stated that penalties cannot be changed once they have been issued. Therefore, a penalty is not his biggest concern, as the biggest downpoint is RB20’s lack of pace. He explained that the car struggled on hard tires and could not overtake the front runners. With just four rounds to go, it appears impossible for Red Bull to defend the Constructors Cup. Additionally, if RB20’s struggle persists, Max Verstappen could be at risk of losing his WDC title.
