Verstappen reduces gap as competitors express frustration with FIA.

Verstappen reduces gap as competitors express frustration with FIA.

      "It indicates that we aren't fast in every situation."

      Max Verstappen's podium finish in Mexico keeps his championship aspirations alive—although Lando Norris has taken the lead in the standings, Verstappen has actually decreased his deficit to 36 points overall. "After everything that happened in the first few laps, fighting for P2 is still a solid result," the four-time world champion remarked. "I lost 10 points to Lando, but this weekend didn't go perfectly. That's the reality—you need flawless weekends to win." He acknowledged that Red Bull still struggles with consistency, despite its recent performance improvements. "It highlights that we're not quick in every scenario, and that's something we need to comprehend better," Verstappen stated.

      The race had its share of controversy, as George Russell accused the FIA of "punishing those who drive properly" after Verstappen cut across the grass at Turn 3 without facing any penalties, leading to speculation that officials are artificially maintaining the title battle's closeness. However, Dr. Helmut Marko emphasized a controversial FIA decision that interrupted Verstappen's late charge towards Charles Leclerc with a virtual safety car due to Carlos Sainz's Williams spinning off. "We were all completely convinced that Max could still secure second place," said the Red Bull consultant. "But then Sainz gave Ferrari an unexpected farewell gift."

      Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies dismissed the allegations of bias towards Verstappen with a smile, referencing prior tensions between Verstappen and Russell while speaking to Canal Plus. Nonetheless, others echoed their frustrations. Ferrari's Frederic Vasseur expressed anger over Lewis Hamilton's penalty: "Max skipped the chicane at Turn 3, didn't receive a penalty, yet we got ten seconds." Fernando Alonso also agreed that the FIA occasionally "looks the other way" in specific circumstances.

      For Verstappen, the championship situation is straightforward. "It's a significant gap," he shared with Viaplay. "We need to win every race from now on—otherwise, it's not going to happen." Marko, on the other hand, remains optimistic. "Overall, we're still competitive at every circuit," he told Servus TV. "We didn't find the ideal setup here, but Brazil includes a sprint race and often experiences rain—so we're hopeful."

Verstappen reduces gap as competitors express frustration with FIA.

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Verstappen reduces gap as competitors express frustration with FIA.

Formula 1 | Max Verstappen's podium finish in Mexico maintains his title aspirations - and although Lando Norris has taken the lead in the championship, the Dutch driver actually (…)