Lando Norris believes that Max Verstappen will fight even harder as his World Championship title is at stake, despite the risk of a race ban.
Verstappen Stands on the Edge of a Ban
As he prepares for the Canadian Grand Prix, Verstappen finds himself just one point away from an automatic race ban in Formula 1.
Controversy from the Previous Race
The reigning champion sparked controversy in Barcelona, where he collided with George Russell after a late-race restart. Initially, Verstappen seemed to comply with Red Bull’s directive to allow Russell to overtake, but then accelerated and crashed into him.
Consequences of the Incident
Russell noted the incident felt intentional, while race officials deemed it clearly the fault of “Car 1.” As a result, Verstappen received a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points on his Super Licence, bringing his total to 11.
Verstappen’s Stance on Possible Changes
Despite the looming threat of a ban, Verstappen remains unyielding. When pressed about altering his racing strategy, he asserted, “I trust myself” and stated that he won’t change his racing approach.
Norris Anticipates Continuous Aggression
Norris, currently second in the Drivers’ standings, speculated that Verstappen would likely become even more aggressive in his pursuit of victories. According to Norris, “He’s still fighting for the championship,” and he expects Verstappen will continue to race hard.
The Nature of Verstappen’s Racing
When discussing whether Verstappen’s penalty points might influence his driving style, Norris dismissed the idea, emphasizing that Verstappen’s skill lies in his aggressive racing approach. Norris noted that despite recent actions, Verstappen’s identity as a driver won’t fundamentally change.
Current Championship Standings
Heading into the Montreal race, Oscar Piastri leads the standings with 181 points, followed closely by Norris, with Verstappen trailing by 39 points.
