“It’s not my problem”: Max Verstappen disinterested in stewarding discourse ahead of Mexico GP
Max Verstappen appeared disinterested in discussing the inconsistencies in stewarding which will be raised during the drivers’ meeting in Mexico. Speaking to media, including Sportskeeda, ahead of the race, the Red Bull driver gave brief responses regarding his US GP incident with Lando Norris and the subsequent comments.
During their wheel-to-wheel battle, Verstappen defended by forcing Norris off-track, which led to the McLaren driver overtaking outside the white line. Norris received a penalty after not giving the position back, costing him a potential third-place finish.
George Russell mentioned that the GPDA would address the stewarding inconsistencies and Verstappen’s penalty for swearing in a separate meeting. However, Verstappen dismissed any concerns, including the swearing penalty, and expressed amusement at opinions suggesting he forced Norris off track intentionally.
Asked by Sportskeeda if he planned to address concerns about the inconsistent stewarding in the meeting, Max Verstappen replied:
“I don’t have any concerns”
Probed further about the swearing, he said:
“At the end of the day, it's not my problem.”
Asked what he thought about the various opinions on his driving style where he did not intend to make the corner, Max Verstappen said:
“Yeah, it's quite impressive that people can read my mind. It's crazy. I mean, I always tried to make the corner. I didn't want to look for a shortcut, so... I don’t even know what to answer to these people.”
Max Verstappen reckons racing rules are getting more complicated every season
Max Verstappen believes that Formula 1 has become over-regulated, with increasingly complex rules that restrict good on-track battles. He expressed that over time, the number of regulations has grown, complicating the racing dynamic. While he understands the FIA and other drivers’ perspectives, the triple world champion feels that even when there were fewer rules, there was always a push to add more, further limiting the drivers’ freedom to race.
Asked if he thought about the guidelines and rule books while he went wheel to wheel against his rivals, Verstappen replied:
“Yeah, I mean, I think we are getting to a stage where I almost need the book in the car. That's how it is. I mean, I think if you look, of course, over the years, the book has grown a lot and more and more rules.”
Asked if the racing guidelines were over-regulated, Max Verstappen replied:
“It is definitely over-regulated, but then I can see the other point of if you take rules away and then there's again an incident like, ‘Oh we need more rules, you know we need to be stronger on this and that’. It is always the same thing. You know because in the past we had maybe some you know lesser rules and then you have the same argument, ‘You know we need to be strong on this and that.’ It is always the same story.”
Verstappen extended his lead in the drivers' championship to 57 points after finishing ahead of Lando Norris at the United States Grand Prix. However, in the constructors’ championship, Red Bull trails McLaren by 40 points and holds a narrow eight-point lead over Ferrari. With five races left, including two Sprint events, Red Bull faces a tough challenge to secure the constructors’ title.
The upcoming Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix will be pivotal, as both McLaren and Red Bull are bringing upgrades to improve their cars. Ferrari’s recent resurgence also poses a significant threat, potentially influencing the championship battle. To overcome the deficits and fend off Ferrari, Red Bull will need strong, consistent performances from both drivers.