Jenson Button frustrated by Max Verstappen ‘problem’ after Lando Norris US Grand Prix penalty

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After nearly a month of waiting for Formula 1 to return, the action during the United States Grand Prix didn’t disappoint at the Circuit of the Americas.

Sprint Race weekends divide opinion but Max Verstappen’s victory on Saturday after an incredibly close qualifying session was demonstrably much more exciting than two additional practice sessions.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

It also put every team under more pressure to implement their new update packages with just an hour of running before diving into a competitive session.

Lando Norris then showed his championship credential by taking pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix, albeit with potentially some help from George Russell who brought the session to an end after crashing.

McLaren and Red Bull both had high hopes for their drivers, but it was Ferrari who benefitted from a clumsy move from Verstappen going into turn one on the opening lap.

Verstappen maintained second but Norris was shuffled down to fourth, but that wasn’t the end of their battle.

McLaren and Red Bull’s cars were equally matched but couldn’t keep up with Ferrari and Sainz overtook Verstappen during the pit stops to set up a fascinating battle between the top two drivers in the championship during the final laps of the race.

Norris finished ahead of his rival when the chequered flag flew, but was penalised for overtaking Verstappen outside of the track limits.

Jenson Button was discussing Norris’s penalty on Sky Sports F1 and admitted he found one aspect of the decision ‘very difficult’.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff disagreed with the stewards’ decision to give Norris a penalty, while Damon Hill compared Verstappen’s defence to George Russell being penalised.

It’s set tongues wagging up and down the paddock and the debate is sure to continue at the next race in Mexico City.

Jenson Button finds Lando Norris penalty ‘very difficult’ during United States Grand Prix

Talking about the incident, Button said: “The only thing I find very difficult is, yes he’s in front at the apex, but he’s in front at the apex because he’s out-braked himself.

“He knows that he has to have his nose in front when he gets to the apex.

“This is a problem with the regulations though as if he knows to have his front nose in front at the apex, he just lifts off and lets the car fly into the corner, he’s in front, but he doesn’t make the corner!”

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Hill then reacted to Button’s analysis alongside Anthony Davidson and added: “Excellent analysis from Anthony Davidson on @SkySportsF1 on the Lando overtake.

“But Jenson is right too, saying all you have to do is lunge to the apex to gain the right.

“Even if you can’t make the corner. Is that fair? Maybe not. But thems the rules atm #f1”

Why Karun Chandhok was ‘confused’ by McLaren’s approach at the United States Grand Prix

McLaren had a decision to make once Norris overtook Verstappen around the outside of turn 12 when they were both off the track.

The Brit either needed to open up a five-second gap to cover the penalty he was potentially going to receive, or give the place straight back to Verstappen and try to overtake him again.

Norris appeared to momentarily think about giving the place back to Verstappen at the beginning of the next lap, but it was only on the final lap of the race that he really tried to open up that gap.

Karun Chandhok admitted that he was confused by McLaren’s approach to Norris’s overtake and should have been much more decisive.

However, Norris needed every point he could get, and it might have been decided that it was worth the risk of not receiving a penalty against giving the place back and failing to overtake the Dutchman again.