Max Verstappen responds to ‘abnormal’ comments from F1 steward over Lando Norris incidents

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Max Verstappen feels recent comments by Johnny Herbert were ‘abnormal’ after the F1 steward questioned his incidents with Lando Norris in the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Herbert was among the four-person panel of stewards reviewing the incidents in Mexico City last week. The FIA rotates its stewards on a race-by-race basis to try to prevent any possibly biased verdicts. Tim Mayer, Loic Bacquelaine and Alfonso Oros Trigueros were also on duty.

This weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix will see Dr Gerd Ennser, Andrew Mallalieu and Luciano Burti step in as the stewards. Herbert will also remain on the panel as the driver steward for the Sao Paulo GP, drawing on his 165 Grands Prix to give advice on all incidents at Interlagos.

Max Verstappen finds public criticism from F1 steward Johnny Herbert ‘abnormal’

Herbert received criticism from Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, after the Mexico City GP as the former Arrows driver felt the Briton was biased against the Red Bull racer when ruling on his two incidents with Norris. But whilst rubbishing Jos’ allegations, Herbert also hit out at Max.

While Herbert believes Verstappen is ‘one of the best drivers’ he has ever seen, the steward questions why the Dutchman thinks he has to make such aggressive moves defensively. The Briton even referenced Verstappen’s controversial move on Lewis Hamilton in Brazil in 2021.

Verstappen received two 10-second time penalties in the Mexico City GP after forcing Norris off the road twice on Lap 10. The Dutchman initially ran his McLaren rival wide at Turn 4 and then petulantly divebombed him at Turn 7, forcing them both off and regaining the position.

READ MORE: The five worst moments of Max Verstappen’s career in Formula 1

His incidents with Norris in Mexico City once again called Verstappen’s ability to race wheel-to-wheel into question, after also forcing Hamilton miles off the road at T4 trying to defend in the 2021 Sao Paulo GP. But Verstappen was puzzled by Herbert publicly questioning him.

“It is quite abnormal that Herbert speaks out like this,” Verstappen told Formule1.NL. “Do I sometimes feel like I am being pushed against the wall? No, I don’t.

“And if there was a wall, we would break it down. You know, it’s fine that everything I do is highlighted. Sometimes it works for you, sometimes it works against you.”

Lando Norris could expect a repeat of Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton in Brazil

Herbert might hope Verstappen receiving two penalties after his two illegal moves on Norris in the Mexico City GP means the Red Bull racer learns a lesson and races more appropriately in Sao Paulo. But the Dutchman’s claims suggest Verstappen has no plan to change his way.

READ MORE: Five unforgettable Sao Paulo GP from Senna’s painful win to Hamilton’s title

The stewards also gave Verstappen a free pass to continue to race the way he does when he escaped punishment for forcing Hamilton off in the 2021 Sao Paulo GP. Former race director Michael Masi was too eager to see the 2021 title fight continue to intervene in their incident.

Like with Norris at Turn 7 in the 2024 Mexico City GP, Verstappen made no effort to keep his Red Bull on the road when he likewise eased off the brakes to take Mercedes rival Hamilton off at Turn 4 in the 2021 Sao Paulo GP. After his claims, Norris could expect similar this year.