MEXICO CITY - Max Verstappen and Red Bull face a major challenge to hang on to the drivers’ championship amid a mounting storm of controversy and criticism in the wake of Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix.
The three-time world champion’s two 10-second penalties and sixth-placed finish allowed McLaren's Lando Norris to trim 10 points off his lead as he came home second behind Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz – setting up an intriguing run-in over the next four race weekends.
AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from the dramas at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez:
Verstappen’s penalties
After enjoying the benefit of a stewards' decision in Austin, where he clashed with Norris during the United States Grand Prix, Max Verstappen experienced the reverse outcome twice on Sunday as the Mexican race stewards set a precedent for new terms of engagement.
After a commanding victory by Carlos Sainz, it was clear that Red Bull were no longer likely to enjoy the benefit of the Dutchman's aggressive style of defence and may suffer again in upcoming races.
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff, who has frequently complained that it was a stewards’ decision in Verstappen’s favour that cost seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton his eighth drivers’ title at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, explained.
"A driver will always push to the limit and when the rules - the execution of the rules or interpretation of the rules - allow a certain way of racing then a driver like Max is always going to exploit it," said Wolff.
"And I think now there has been a new interpretation, execution of those regulations. I think it will change the way everybody races in the future. You won't see that anymore.
"I believe that you've probably got to leave space on the outside of the corner if the car is next to you -- braking late and taking the other car off whilst also driving off track, I think that's not allowed anymore."
The penalties were generally received well in the paddock as a signal that a change of interpretation had taken place – and for some it was long expected as well as welcome.
Hamilton laughed as he recalled: "I could see a group of cars ahead and I saw a plume of smoke, like dust and I knew what it was - I knew it must have been him - Like, for sure it was him!”
Asked about the vexed issue of the sporting legality of Verstappen’s moves, Hamilton added: “Well, it's always been a grey area. And that’s why he’s got away with it for so long.
“I experienced this many times with Max. You shouldn’t be able to just launch the car up the inside and be ahead and then go off – and still hold position.”
The outcome was that Verstappen heads to Brazil for the Sao Paulo race, the third of a triple-header, with a lead of 47 points on Norris but set for another penalty – this time for a likely change of engine.
Hamilton timing spot on
Lewis Hamilton may not have won Sunday’s Mexican race, but he had every reason to celebrate a second successive Ferrari victory, knowing he will be racing for the in-form team next year.
By rich irony, just as the triumphant Carlos Sainz has shown his best form and the full support of team and family, he knows he is departing a team on the way up under team boss Fred Vasseur.
Just as he did in 2013 when he unexpectedly left McLaren to join Mercedes, the Briton appears to have timed his transfer well and he will enjoy a reunion with Vasseur who helped guide him to success in the Formula Three Euroseries as a junior driver.
Leclerc targets second
Charles Leclerc was a rare outlier in the reaction to Verstappen's penalties because, as a Ferrari driver, he hopes to enjoy the team’s current form and overhaul Norris in the drivers’ title race.
"I welcome Max being as aggressive to Lando as possible," he said. "It helps me at least it gives me a chance to get closer to Lando in the drivers title race because it is still a fight.
"If anything, it is more of a fight between me and Lando than with Max. I will just try to do my best to the end of the season and see."