Lando Norris trails championship leader Max Verstappen by 47 points with just four races left in the season. Following their recent clash at the Mexico City Grand Prix, Norris expressed his belief that Verstappen is aware of his missteps during their battle. Verstappen received two 10-second penalties for his maneuvers against Norris, prompting the McLaren driver to assert that Verstappen understands he made mistakes and that the responsibility to amend his approach lies with him.

Norris acknowledged Verstappen’s talent, stating that he is arguably the most skilled driver on the grid, well aware of racing boundaries. Heading into the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Verstappen dismissed critiques of his defensive tactics as bothersome and claimed they do not influence him. The reigning three-time champion insisted he remains focused on his race strategy, unbothered by outside opinions.

Damon Hill, a former world champion from 1996, recently criticized Verstappen’s driving style, likening it to “Dick Dastardly stuff.” In response, Verstappen stated that he ignores such comments and prefers to concentrate on his own performance. He mentioned that some critics are biased and reiterated his confidence in his racing ability.

Norris expressed hope for a more respectful competition in future races but acknowledged that it’s ultimately up to Verstappen. The Red Bull driver’s tactics have become a topic of scrutiny following two controversial incidents in recent races. During the United States Grand Prix, Norris was penalized for mistakenly overtaking off-track while competing with Verstappen, who also went off track in the same exchange. This led to discussions among F1 drivers about whether Norris’s penalty was justified.

In Mexico, a similar situation arose when Norris attempted an outside overtaking maneuver at Turn Four but was pushed off by Verstappen, leading to another penalty for the Dutchman shortly after when he regained his position by going off track again. When asked about changing his approach moving forward, Verstappen emphasized his experience in F1 and suggested he knows how to navigate such challenges.

Verstappen also critiqued racing regulations as overly complex and pointed out inconsistencies in officiating when it comes to penalties for swearing. He highlighted a recent incident involving Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc but noted no action was taken against him despite similar behavior resulting in punishment for himself.

As for race preparations, reports suggest Verstappen may face a five-place grid penalty due to an engine change, although he had not confirmed this yet. Red Bull has not provided any comments regarding this situation.