Max Verstappen accuses McLaren of ‘complaining a lot lately’ as tensions escalate following US Grand Prix
Max Verstappen has taken aim at McLaren after their criticism of his defensive tactics during Sunday night’s US Grand Prix, with the 26-year-old saying Red Bull’s rivals have been ‘complaining a lot lately’.
Verstappen extended his lead over Lando Norris to 57 points as he looks to win the F1 title for the fourth year on the trot.
The Dutchman benefitted from a five-second penalty given to Norris, who passed his nemesis off the track in the closing stages.
Norris was left unhappy following the incident, while McLaren team principal Andrea Stella criticised Verstappen’s defensive tactics by saying: “The defending car goes just straight at the apex.
“We have checked 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 manoeuvre.
“How many times has Max used this way to defend? Both cars go off track and both cars are gaining an advantage.
“If there is an advantage gained, it was at least neutral.”
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The incident comes amid an ongoing war of words between McLaren and Red Bull.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently accused Christian Horner’s side of breaking rules relating to the height of their car – and he still feels there needs to be more of an inquest, despite the FIA clearing Red Bull of any wrongdoing.
And Verstappen has now hit back at McLaren, insisting they’ve been ‘complaining a lot lately’.
He said: “They complain a lot lately.
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“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 penalised for that in the past, too.”
Horner also spoke out after Norris was demoted to fourth.
The Red Bull supremo stated: “It was crystal clear that the pass had been made off the track so Lando should have given the place back.
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“He chose not to so therefore 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.”
Norris, for his part, believes the decision to punish him was a ‘momentum killer’.
He had, prior to the race, been closing the gap on Verstappen. However, after Sunday’s drama, he’s now 57 points behind.
There are just 146 points available with five races remaining.
And Horner believes Red Bull have turned a corner, with the Briton adding: “Look, there are five races to go and with a 57-point lead nothing is ever comfortable.
“But this is the first time we’ve outscored Lando since Spa so it was important for us to get off the backfoot and more on to the front foot.”