Norris reveals hope Verstappen accepts 'step too far' taken

Lando Norris has revealed that he hopes Max Verstappen accepts that he went a "step too far" in the pair's incidents during the Mexico City Grand Prix. 

Verstappen received two separate 10-second time penalties on lap 10 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. 

The first penalty was for forcing Norris off the circuit at Turn 4, whilst the second was for gaining an advantage off the track and forcing Norris off at Turn 7. 

Red Bull disagreed with both penalties which dealt a blow to Verstappen in the F1 drivers' title. The 27-year-old finished sixth following his penalties, whilst Norris finished second to reduce Verstappen's lead to 47 points. 

It marked the latest incident between the two drivers, who previously came together in Austria and in Austin at the United States Grand Prix. 

Verstappen also received a 10-second time penalty in Austria, whilst Norris received a five-second time penalty in Austin. The Briton disagrees with both of those punishments.

When asked if it was psychologically important for the incidents with Verstappen in Mexico City to have gone in his favour, Norris said: "I'm not happy because of that. I'm happy because I'm P2, but... Austria, no one should have got a penalty, I don't think, I would say. 

"Maybe some of my views are a little bit different now than what they were back then. Austria, I don't think anyone should have got a penalty. Austin, I don't think anyone should have got a penalty. 

"Let's say we both kind of did things wrong. I feel like I was made to do something wrong, and I wouldn't say I… The majority of people, the majority of drivers feel like that was the same thing. 

"That's why you've heard of some of the rule changes that might be coming and those types of things. It's because there's a common consensus that it wasn't correct what happened in the result that I had in Austin."

Verstappen went to 'another level'

The rule changes referred to by Norris is adjustments the FIA are set to make to F1's racing guidelines, following a meeting with the drivers on the Friday in Mexico City. 

It was in response to the incident between Norris and Verstappen in Austin, with McLaren having seen its right of review rejected. 

However, what happened in Mexico City is seen as beyond the previous clashes between the two drivers by Norris.

The McLaren driver is hopeful Verstappen accepts he was in the wrong, with Norris having acted to not crash out of the race.

"This was another level on both of those cases," insisted Norris. "It was another level on both. I was ahead of Max in the braking zone, past the apex. I am avoiding crashing.

"This is the difference. I can't speak for him, and maybe he'll say something different. But I think it was a step too far from both of those, and it was clear that the stewards agreed with that.

"So I don't see it as a win or anything like this, but it's more that I hope Max acknowledges that he took it a step too far."