After months of struggle against McLaren, Red Bull’s racing machine finally finished ahead of the MCL38.The top contenders for the WDC title– Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, are battling it out to clinch the silverware. However, Norris has kept verstappen under pressure since the Miami GP. As a result, the Dutchman is on a nine-race winless streak (not including the sprint). Moreover, despite a tough summer break, the Milton Keynes-based was positive ahead of the Austin GP for two reasons— First, Max Verstappen’s track record at COTA. Second was RB20’s performance boost in the Singapore GP.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris has been in an exceptional touch off late, as he appears to be on a winning rampage. Thus, everyone expected a fierce battle, and the duo didn’t disappoint fans. However, in a wheel-to-wheel skirmish, Max Verstappen went off track to defend Lando Norri’s ambitious dive bomb. Subsequently, the Briton was penalized after pushing Verstappen off track. He was slapped with a five-second penalty, which ultimately made the difference, as the Dutchman bagged the final podium spot behind the Ferrari duo. This controversial decision has sparked widespread debate over its clarity. On the other hand, McLaren and Red Bull engaged in a verbal exchange, with each team defending its position.
Lando Norris Almost Out Of World Title Contention After MAJOR Blow
McLaren kept outperforming the Bulls for months. However, at the Circuit Of The Americas, Red Bull finally landed a massive blow that could jeopardize Norris’s WDC run. The defending champion extended his lead by 3 points, making it 57. Consequently, Lando Norris was disappointed and frustrated with the outcome, as he praised Verstappen’s defensive tactics. In the post-race media interaction, the Briton accepted it as a “momentum killer.” Further, he claimed the Austin GP had been an unsuccessful weekend as he failed to beat Max.
Moreover, the Briton understands that the Papaya squad has a lot of work to do as the world title battle converges. Additionally, the 24-year-old racer was unhappy with the FIA’s decision. Norris explained that Verstappen went off track as a defense mechanism, which was not his fault. Therefore, Norris feels the race stewards rushed the decision to hand him a five-second penalty, which made the difference. However, he respects the rules and regulations and praises Verstappen’s defensive tactics.
Christian Horner Labels FIA’s Penalty Decision As “Crystal Clear”
When the Red Bull chief was asked to comment on the controversy, he clearly sided with his team. Horner said that all the racers are aware of the regulations, and there is no room for uncertainty. He also justified the penalty by highlighting that the pass was made off the track.
In addition, after returning to the track, the Briton should have ideally given Verstappen his position. His failure to do so is the real reason for a penalty. However, the Briton also felt that Norris waited for turn 1 to give back the spot, but it was already too late.
