Max Verstappen has responded to McLaren's criticism of his defensive tactics during the US Grand Prix by accusing the British team of 'complaining a lot lately'. Verstappen increased his championship lead over Lando Norris to 57 points after Norris was demoted to fourth place, one position behind Verstappen, due to a five-second penalty for passing his rival off the track in the final stages of the race. Norris criticized the stewards for rushing their decision and claimed that Verstappen's aggressive defense left him with no room to maneuver.
McLaren's team principal, Andrea Stella, added: 'The defending car goes just straight at the apex. We have reviewed the video multiple times. It is just going straight and off the track as much as Lando is doing, giving Lando no chance to compete the maneuver.' Stella further questioned how often Verstappen has used this defensive strategy, noting that both cars went off track and gained an advantage. 'If there is an advantage gained, it was at least neutral,' he said.
In the lead-up to the race, McLaren's CEO, Zak Brown, stated that he still believes Red Bull has a case to answer regarding the discovery of a controversial device allegedly allowing them to adjust the car's setup between qualifying and the race, which is not prohibited under the sport's rules. Red Bull has acknowledged the device's existence but claims it is inaccessible when the car is built. They have agreed to make modifications to their car, and the FIA has since closed the case.
Responding to Stella's comments, Verstappen said: 'They complain a lot lately. But it is very clear and it is in the rules. If you are outside the white line you cannot pass, and I've been penalized for that in the past, too.' Red Bull's team principal, Christian Horner, praised the stewards for their decision, stating that it was 'crystal clear' that the pass had been made off the track and that Norris should have given the place back. 'He chose not to, so there was a penalty, and for us, it was very much a black and white scenario. It was a slam-dunk. You want the right people on the podium. The stewards dealt with it pretty rapidly and decently,' Horner said.
With five races remaining and a 57-point lead, Horner acknowledged that nothing is ever certain in the championship. However, he noted that this was the first time Red Bull had outscored McLaren since Spa, which was crucial for them to shift from a defensive to an offensive position.
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