Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. celebrated his victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix, standing on the podium alongside second-placed McLaren's Lando Norris and third-placed Ferrari's Charles. The event marked a significant moment in the ongoing Formula One championship.
McLaren's Lando Norris expressed his thoughts on Max Verstappen's performance, stating that the Red Bull driver "got what he had coming to him" after receiving two 10-second penalties and finishing sixth in the race. This outcome revitalized Norris's title aspirations, leaving him 47 points behind with four races remaining.
Norris emphasized his expectations of a challenging battle with Verstappen, acknowledging the Dutch driver's relentless pursuit to outperform him. "It's clear that it doesn't matter if he wins or finishes second, his only job is to beat me in the race," Norris told reporters. "And he'll sacrifice himself to do that, like he did today."
Norris also highlighted the intensity of their rivalry, noting that Verstappen's aggressive tactics were not always fair or clean. "I think today was not fair, clean racing. And therefore, I think he got what he had coming to him," Norris said.
Despite Verstappen's early season dominance, McLaren's rapid ascent has complicated his path to a fourth title. The close competition has intensified, with Verstappen now on a 10-race winless streak. Their recent clashes, including a previous incident in Texas, have further fueled the rivalry.
Norris reflected on the challenges of racing against Verstappen, stating, "Today I felt like I just had to avoid collisions and that's not what you feel like you want to do in a race." He acknowledged Verstappen's championship lead and the pressure it brings, but emphasized his focus on his own performance.
In conclusion, Norris's strong finish and Verstappen's penalties have added a new dynamic to the championship, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the season.
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