The past few races have been nothing short of a headache for the FIA, with the world title battle heating up. During the Austin GP, Lando Norris received a five-second penalty for overtaking Max Verstappen outside the track limits. Now, in a twist, Verstappen himself faced the stewards, receiving a total of 20 seconds in penalties alongside two demerit points.
This time around, Verstappen found himself under pressure from a fast-approaching Lando Norris. The RB20’s lack of pace left him with limited options, pushing him to adopt a defensive stance. Meanwhile, as director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, George Russell expressed approval of the strict approach taken against questionable driving tactics. He shared his perspective on the Verstappen-Norris clash following the action-packed Mexico GP.
George Russell Praises Race Steward’s Strict Action Against Aggressive Racing
In Mexico, George Russell addressed the ongoing scrutiny around the championship contenders’ on-track conduct, especially following Max Verstappen’s 20-second penalty for two infractions. Russell voiced his belief that the stewards would continue enforcing strict standards in future races. He revealed that nearly all drivers, except one, supported a more immediate approach to penalizing certain incidents rather than postponing updates until 2025. Russell noted that the stewards recognize the need for change and appear to be on board with implementing it.
Most drivers felt it was essential to make adjustments now if needed, rather than wait for the next season. Russell expressed satisfaction with the recent penalties and expected similar behavior to be closely monitored, particularly in Brazil. While he acknowledged that implementing these changes might be more complex than anticipated, with formal processes requiring votes and approvals, he emphasized that the drivers are largely unified in their stance on the direction the sport should take regarding penalties and racing standards.
Mercedes Having A “Hard And Fair” Intra-Squad Battle
George Russell described his on-track battles with teammate Lewis Hamilton as “hard and fair,” underscoring their competitive yet respectful racing. In the recent race, he managed to hold off Hamilton until the beginning of lap 66, showcasing their close but clean rivalry.
Russell also commented on the clash between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, focusing on Verstappen’s aggressive move at Turn 7, where he entered the corner with excessive speed, forcing Norris off track. The maneuver reminded Russell of Verstappen’s contentious move on Hamilton at the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix.
While Russell enjoyed the spirited competition with Hamilton, he raised concerns over the nature of some recent on-track maneuvers. He noted that some moves pushed beyond fair competition, bordering on unsporting behavior. While he acknowledged the initial incident could be seen as a close judgment call, he found Verstappen’s second move particularly excessive, likening it to the aggressive tactics seen in Brazil two years ago.