Marc Priestley unhappy with ‘out of control’ Max Verstappen who caused ‘major safety concern’

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Max Verstappen and Lando Norris seem to clash on track more than ever currently, and the latest instalment in the drama resulted in yet another penalty.

This time, it was Verstappen on the receiving end of the steward’s decision, as he was handed 20 seconds worth of time penalties.

He may have been in contention for the win, and at least a podium otherwise, but forcing title rival Norris off the track twice did him no favours.

It was exactly the sort of race the McLaren driver needed to claw back some of the Dutchman’s margin in the championship, but he needs to repeat that performance four more times to claim all the glory.

Marc Priestley says Max Verstappen was ‘out of control’ in overtake

Whilst he was on the right side of luck after forcing Norris off the track at the United States Grand Prix, he wasn’t looked upon so favourably in Mexico.

It was his second move that sparked the most backlash – a desperate lunge which resulted in neither driver making the corner and would’ve resulted in a crash without avoiding action from his British rival.

Former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley mentioned on his YouTube channel, that Verstappen’s move was unsafe.

READ MORE: F1 paddock insider ‘floored’ by what the Mexico City Grand Prix crowd did to Yuki Tsunoda after his crash

“If someone gets slightly pushed wide at one corner, ok so be it, let them come back at the next corner and have another go. Just let them figure it out themselves.

“Give as good as they get, whilst always trying to avoid an accident. The difference is when it becomes a major safety issue. I think that’s exactly what happened at the next major sparking point, which is what?

“Turn seven or eight. Where Max went in on such a rapid lunge, he was out of control and there was no way he could ever make that corner. It felt like a bit of red mist after the last one.”

What’s the resolution for Verstappen and Norris?

The simplest way to make sure that the drivers no longer clash as much on track is to change the rules, to enforce a harsh penalty on those that give a rival no option but to take to the runoff.

Forcing a driver off the track doesn’t constitute racing and is an ugly look for the sport amid an exciting championship fight.

Stamping down on this now will help prevent possible chaos at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – apologies to Lewis Hamilton fans who have been through that before.

READ MORE: What Lando Norris did at the Mexico City Grand Prix that shows his ‘fear’ of Max Verstappen

If there is the threat of a possible drive-through penalty for committing such an action, then the drivers simply won’t risk it – much like they can’t drive beyond the white line in Monaco, because it would end their race.

Improving the racing action on track, encouraging better overtaking moves and allowing cars to go side-by-side again without worrying about being sent into oblivion, may help create an all-time finish to 2024.