Verstappen's Legacy 'Will Be Tainted By His Sporting Attitude' Says Saddened Brundle
F1
Former F1 driver Martin Brundle explained why Max Verstappen's on-track behavior at the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix saddened him.
Red Bull Racing F1 driver Max Verstappen received in total of 20 seconds worth of penalties after two battles with Lando Norris on lap 10 of the 20th round of the 2024 season in Mexico City.
Some fans and F1 experts tried to dispute the first ten-second penalty for pushing another car off the track, but almost everyone agreed that the overtaking attempt in turn number seven was too much.
Speaking to the media after the Grand Prix, George Russell said he hadn't seen anything like that since the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, where Verstappen had a similar incident with Lewis Hamilton.
Discussing the second incident that the Red Bull Racing driver had with Lando Norris, former F1 driver Martin Brundle wrote in his column for Sky Sports:
"In Turn Eight, unquestionably not a usual overtaking place, Verstappen, presumably feeling that Norris had passed him off the track, simply threw his car up the inside of the McLaren."
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The McLaren driver said after the Grand Prix that the triple World Champion is taking advantage of the situation, knowing that collision with Norris and mutual DNF can only benefit him.
Brundle suggests that Verstappen must have known he could potentially take both him and his Championship rival out of the race with the incident in turn number 7.
"He must have known this could have instantly taken them both out of the race, but Norris was ready for it."
"It was another 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage, but frankly, it could easily have warranted a pit lane drive-through for dangerous driving."
"It was quite a shocking move which took them both way off the track and allowed Charles Leclerc through for a Ferrari one-two at that time."
Brundle also suggested that Verstappen's illegal overtake ultimately cost Lando Norris the race victory. Despite losing two positions and a considerable amount of time with Verstappen's overtake, the 24-year-old crossed the finish line only 4.705 seconds behind Carlos Sainz in the end.
With Norris in P2 and Verstappen in P6, the Dutchman's lead in the Championship shrank by 10 points. If Norris finished in P1 and Verstappen in P4, the gap would have come down by 13 points. Brundle added:
"That delay for Norris, and subsequently having to follow Verstappen until the Dutchman pitted on lap 26, possibly cost him victory given his pace in the final stages of the race."
"I know that Max doesn't care what anybody thinks, but it saddens me when he drives like that. He's a multiple champion, has more driving talent in his little finger than most of us ever had, but his legacy will be tainted by this sporting attitude and that's a shame."
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