Kevin Magnussen loved ‘awesome’ Max Verstappen move that left the FIA ‘crying’

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Max Verstappen has received support from some of his fellow F1 drivers amid recent criticism over his driving style. The reigning world champion was involved in three controversial incidents in the triple-header.

First, he tested the limits of the regulations in the United States as he defended against Lando Norris. The McLaren driver overtook him outside the bounds of the track, but he felt he was forced wide before doing so.

Many of his peers agreed, pointing out that he was clearly ahead when they applied the brakes. However, some drivers sided against Norris and insisted Verstappen’s tactics were hard but fair.

Norris received a five-second penalty for that move, but it was Verstappen who was punished by the FIA in Mexico. There were two 10-second sanctions – one for pushing Norris onto the grass at turn four, and another for re-passing him off the circuit at turn eight.

Martin Brundle led the criticism of Verstappen, calling the second manoeuvre ‘ridiculous’. This forced him firmly onto the defensive before his brilliant victory in Brazil.

Much to the surprise of Ted Kravitz, Esteban Ocon was Verstappen’s ‘biggest supporter’. Ocon, who previously had an altercation with the Red Bull driver after a race at Interlagos, felt it was legitimate to go to extreme lengths in search of a championship.

Kevin Magnussen was delighted by Max Verstappen’s Mexico lunge on Lando Norris

Kevin Magnussen has now joined Ocon in publicly defending Verstappen. He was speaking on his Viaplay ‘Debrief’ show in Denmark.

The Haas driver is known for being one of the most aggressive on the grid. In September, he became the first to receive a race ban under the penalty points system after racking up 12 in the space of the year.

Rewatching footage of Verstappen’s turn-eight move on Norris in Mexico, Magnussen called it ‘awesome’. He delighted in the backlash that the 27-year-old had received.

He said: “The reason why I think it is awesome, is because it is p*****g off so many people, they are yelling and screaming, and the FIA is crying about it. Relax.”

Damon Hill responds to Jos Verstappen claims that FIA steward Johnny Herbert is biased

Verstappen and his camp have levelled bias claims at the F1 stewards and media after the heavy Mexico penalties. Most in the paddock felt the verdict was justified.

If there’s one fair complaint, it’s that the first punishment was perhaps excessive. Helmut Marko felt Verstappen deserved 15 seconds, not 20, because the turn-four incident was only worth five.

Verstappen says he has the ‘wrong passport’ for the paddock, implicitly alleging that the British drivers receive preferential treatment. Damon Hill hoped he was joking when he made the remark.

Jos Verstappen accused FIA steward Johnny Herbert of harbouring an agenda against his son. But Hill has stood up for Herbert, who has the ‘right to an opinion’.