Helmut Marko names the penalty Max Verstappen really deserved for Mexico City Grand Prix incidents

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Max Verstappen is up to six penalty points after his clashes with Lando Norris at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The stewards handed him an additional punishment after 20 seconds of in-race penalties.

Verstappen is now halfway to a race ban, though two of his points (collected at last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix) will expire in three weeks’ time. Of the 19 other active drivers, only Fernando Alonso (eight) is currently on a higher tally.

The Red Bull driver also picked up two at the Austrian Grand Prix in June after a collision with Norris. The stewards decided he was at fault for a tangle that ended his rival’s race.

Sunday’s race in Mexico, though, was his most ill-disciplined yet. Verstappen picked up two 10-second penalties for two separate incidents in the space of four corners on lap 10.

First, he was adjudged to have forced Norris off the track at turn four as the McLaren driver tried to overtake him on the outside. He escaped punishment for a similar incident in Austin, but Norris clearly had the right to more room on this occasion.

Martin Brundle fumed at the ‘ridiculous’ Verstappen for his attempt to re-pass the Englishman, who emerged ahead after taking to the grass. He lunged down the inside at turn seven, running Norris wide and failing to make the corner himself – enough for another 10 seconds.

Helmut Marko would have reduced Max Verstappen penalty at Mexican Grand Prix

Speaking to Austrian outlet ORF after the race, Red Bull executive director Helmut Marko admitted that Verstappen did deserve a harsh penalty. But he still accused the stewards of trying to set an example.

He felt that Verstappen’s transgressions only warranted 15 seconds – i.e. one 10-second penalty and one five. The world champion apparently suffered from his ‘tough’ image.

A slight reduction wouldn’t have had a significant impact. Sixth-place Verstappen finished the race more than 10 seconds behind the car ahead – the Mercedes of George Russell.

“Max has the image of being a tough driver,” Marko said. “I think they wanted to set an example. 15 seconds would have been enough.”

Why Jos Verstappen was furious with Red Bull after Max Verstappen’s Mexico penalties

Brundle’s angry reaction speaks to the consensus in the F1 paddock – the second incident was more egregious than the first. And yet, Verstappen only received penalty points for what happened at turn four.

Marko has implicitly accepted one of the penalties and labelled the other too harsh, but he wasn’t specific. It seems unlikely that the Red Bull leadership will warn their superstar driver given his status within the team.

Christian Horner isn’t planning to appeal Verstappen’s penalties, even after bringing Norris’ telemetry to a media briefing to argue his case. This may have been designed merely as a public show of support.

Nonetheless, Jos Verstappen directed his anger at Red Bull, arguing that his son had to resort to desperate measures because of his car’s limitations. It was supposedly the only way he could keep Norris behind.