It was not Max Verstappen‘s day in Mexico. The world champion clashed with Lando Norris in the opening phase and received two ten-second penalties. Verstappen was therefore sentenced to limit damage, but the pace was never there. Sixth place was the maximum result, something Verstappen is not at all satisfied with.
“To be honest, I don’t look back that much (at the moment with Norris ed.), because it was of course just a dramatic race,” Verstappen told Viaplay. “In the end, that moment doesn’t really matter. Of course I get a 20-second penalty and that’s a lot, but I don’t want to say too much about it. Whether I agree with it or not, you still have those 20 seconds.” In any case, it was a moment to relax in the pits, turn off the engine and continue. The race was of course very bad.”
That started before the pit stop, says Verstappen. “I had no performance at all. The problem is that we are too slow and that is why I have to fight these kinds of battles. We just have to be faster. Then I don’t have to do things like that,” Verstappen sneers at Red Bull.
Verstappen had to stand still for a long time in the pit lane. “I knew it of course, 20 seconds… But everything was well coordinated!” And why doesn’t Verstappen want to say anything about his punishment? “There’s no point, whether I agree with it or not. The punishment has been given and I’m not going to cry. I’m not like that.”