Lando Norris prevailing in a wheel-to-wheel fight with title competitor Max Verstappen at the Mexico Grand Prix was vindication of his “fair” driving, according to McLaren group principal Andrea Stella.
Norris ended up second behind Carlos Sainz to take 10 explain of Verstappen’s lead and will certainly head to Brazil following weekend break tracking the three-time globe champ by 47 factors with 4 races continuing to be and 120 factors still up for grabs.
A week on from Norris being benched behind Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix for surpassing his competitor off the track– a fine McLaren opposed– the champion lead characters secured horns once again in Mexico City.
This time it was Verstappen that dropped nasty of the guardians on lap 10, collecting 20 secs of charges– for compeling Norris off the track at turn 5 and leaving the track and getting a benefit at turn 8.
Norris called Verstappen, that fought back to end up 6th, “dangerous” over the radio and claimed he did not think his competitor was driving in a reasonable fashion.
Stella commended Norris for adhering to his principals in the warmth of fight and claimed McLaren have constantly backed the method their chauffeur sets about his service.
“Our conversation and internal reviews have always been very clear – Lando we like, we approve and confirm the way you go racing,” Stella claimed in Mexico City.
“It is not for you to go there and try to find justice yourself. You go racing in a fair, sporting way like you do and then there needs to be a third party – that is the stewarding that will say whether some manoeuvres are fair or not.
“Don’t be desperate, you don’t have to prove anything. You go racing fair and square. That is what we want from Lando, that is what Lando wants from himself and I think it is important though that the team confirms that is what we want from you.”
Ahead of this weekend break’s race, Norris had actually claimed he could require to transform his driving design to take on Verstappen and also claimed he was “not on the level” of the champion leader.
“Lando can look at his own racing, often looking at a half-empty glass in relation to what he could do,” Stella included.
“I always needed to have a conversation with Lando to reassure him, ‘don’t worry, it will be alright’.
“In this sense this is a positive day because it has proven that – I think it is good to race hard but it can’t be resolved on track by the two drivers.
“It needs a third party, the authorities. We are completely happy with the way Lando has been racing before.”
Red Bull group principal Christian Horner contested the preliminary fine handed to Verstappen at turn 5 as Norris walked around the exterior.
Horner got here for his media responsibilities with published out GPS graphes, which he declared revealed Norris had actually entered into that edge later the brakes and faster than he had actually done on his fastest lap of the race.
“It used to be a reward of the bravest to go round the outside,” Horner claimed.
“I think we are in danger of flipping the overtaking laws upside down where drivers will just try to get their nose ahead at the apex and then claim that they have to be given room on the exit.
“They need to get back to basics – if you are on the outside you will not have priority.
“Otherwise we will end up with a mess over these next four races. I think it’s really important that the driver steward, together with the drivers, agree something that is sensible rather than what we are getting.”
