Max Verstappen has been widely criticized this week for his driving style in the Mexican Grand Prix. The Dutchman was handed a double time penalty, which resulted in him not finishing higher than sixth place. British commentators, including analyst Martin Brundle, have not let it rest there and have further tarnished Verstappen’s name in recent days.
“I know Max (Verstappen) doesn’t care what everyone thinks, but it still saddens me when he drives like this,” Martin Brundle wrote in his column for Sky Sports. “He is a multiple champion and has more talent in his little finger than most of us will ever have. But he is spoiling his good name with this unsporting attitude.” While many fans questioned the supposedly ‘biased’ stewards, Brundle praised the race officials for their determination.
“Max Verstappen received two ten-second penalties within four turns,” explained the former Formula 1 driver. “This once again proves how steadfast the stewards have become – a welcome improvement.” Brundle judged that Verstappen defended too aggressively in both cases, and tried to deliberately push rival Lando Norris off the track.
Drive-through Penalty?
“He (Verstappen) must have known that his maneuvers could have immediately taken them both out of the race, but Norris managed to prevent that,” Brundle concluded his analysis. In his opinion, the first time penalty was fully justified, although the stewards could have been a bit more lenient in the second case. “The second reprimand was for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage,” stated Brundle. “Honestly, that could have just been a drive-through penalty for dangerous driving.”
Verstappen would eventually cross the finish line in sixth place, four spots behind his title rival from McLaren. According to Brundle, Norris could have further closed the gap in the championship if Verstappen had behaved better in the opening stages of the race. “The delay possibly cost him (Norris) the victory, given his pace at the end of the race.”
