Formula 1 race steward Johnny Herbert believes “we still have a lot of interesting racing coming our way” from Red Bull driver Max Verstappen after the Dutchman was penalised in the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Herbert was one of the selected stewards residing over the action in Mexico City, whereupon Verstappen ran title rival Lando Norris off the road, not once, but twice in the same lap.
The three-time GP winner and his fellow stewards took a dim view of the Red Bull driver’s antics, and he was handed two separate 10-second penalties.
That brought the Dutchman home in sixth place and McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella believes Verstappen cost Norris the win.
“Those penalties in Mexico won’t stop Max Verstappen from pushing Lando Norris off the track in the future,” Herbert told Action Network.
“The whole intention of Verstappen was to try to let Ferrari get the 1-2 finish.
“I think that’s definitely what Verstappen intended and tried to achieve, I understand why he did it but I don’t agree with it, I don’t think many people do.”
Norris was running in third, behind eventual race winner Carlos Sainz and Verstappen on Lap 10 before making his move.
Verstappen ran the McLaren wide at Turns 4 and 8, allowing Charles Leclerc to sweep into second.
Norris eventually recovered to finish as the runner-up in Mexico, scoring 18 points to Verstappen’s eight, gaining 10 in the title race.
Had Norris won and Verstappen finished fourth behind the much-fancied Ferraris, the points gain for the McLaren driver would have been 13 points.
“‘Fair racing’ is something Norris has mentioned before, and that’s the type of fight he wants to have,” Herbert recalled.
“I don’t see Verstappen’s driving changing because the number one goal is to stop Norris from closing the gap for the drivers’ championship.
“We potentially still have a lot of interesting racing coming our way.”
McLaren and Red Bull debate over Max Verstappen penalties
There was heavy debate in the Mexico paddock following Verstappen’s penalties.
The man himself argued that 20 seconds “is a lot” to be penalised.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown felt the punishment wasn’t severe enough, meanwhile, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner brought telemetry to his post-race media session to fight Verstappen’s case.
Herbert explained “It’s the guidelines we followed, the teams agreed with our decisions.
“The right decision was made, the 20-second penalty for Max Verstappen was not harsh. Was Verstappen’s driving style on the edge or over the top? Yes, it was.
“Verstappen’s driving style was harsh, especially when he’s taking a fellow driver off the track. It’s an absolute no-no from me, current drivers, former drivers and stewards.”
Speaking to select media including Motorsport Week after the race, Verstappen said his defensive tactics were a product of his car’s poor performance.
“The problem is that we are too slow and that’s why I’m being put in those positions, that is my problem,” Verstappen claimed.
Herbert refutes this logic, praising Verstappen’s ability as a GP driver and encouraging him not to resort to the driving exhibited in Mexico.
“I am such a big fan of Verstappen and it frustrates me massively when he drives the way he did in Mexico,” he said.
“He doesn’t need to do it, he’s so good in the cockpit and at this point in the championship, he just needs to stay out of trouble and drive as well as possible.
“When Verstappen goes into this horrible mindset of trying to gain an advantage by taking a fellow driver off the race track so Ferrari can get the 1-2, that is where Verstappen needs to know he doesn’t have to do that. Just win in the cleanest possible way you can.”
With four rounds remaining in the 2024 F1 season, Verstappen has 362 points to Norris’ 315 in the Drivers’ standings.
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