Verstappen 'got what he had coming to him' - Norris

Lando Norris was left with no doubt that Max Verstappen deserved his double-whammy penalty at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The F1 title rivals locked horns again on lap 10 of the 71-lap race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, and on this occasion, the stewards hit Red Bull driver Verstappen with two 10-second penalties.

The first was for forcing Norris off track at Turn 4 as the McLaren driver attempted an overtake around the outside. The stewards ruled that "Norris was ahead of Verstappen at the entry, apex and towards the exit of the turn".

In taking to the grass, Norris rejoined the circuit ahead of race leader - and eventual winner - Carlos Sainz in his Ferrari, but handed back the position before slotting in ahead of Verstappen.

Moments later, Verstappen launched himself up the inside of Norris into Turn 7. The Briton was again forced off the circuit, losing a place to the Dutchman, who was penalised a second time for 'leaving the track and gaining an advantage'.

The incidents came just a week after Norris was handed a five-second time penalty for overtaking Verstappen off track, although had again been forced off by the latter's aggressive defending.

Reflecting on what unfolded with Verstappen in Mexico, Norris pulled no punches.

"I did everything I've been told in terms of what the rules are, the guidelines and all of this stuff, yet it just wasn't to be," said Norris. "And, of course, he got some penalties for that.

"I go into every race expecting a tough battle with Max. It's clear that it doesn't matter if he wins or is second, his only job is to beat me in the race. And he'll sacrifice himself to do that, like he did [in Mexico].

"But I want to have good battles with him. I want to have those tough battles like I've seen him have plenty of times. But fair ones.

"It's always going to be on the line. It's always going to be tough with Max. He's never going to make anyone's life easy, especially mine, at this point of the year.

"It was not fair, clean racing, and therefore, I think he got what he had coming to him."

Asked whether he felt Verstappen was harsher with him on this occasion than in Austin, Norris replied: "Probably, yes."

Norris - A lot of people are against us

Norris went on to finish second behind Sainz, and with Verstappen sixth, the gap between the duo is 47 points in the standings with 120 points up for grabs.

Norris still faces a significant ask to overhaul Verstappen and deny his rival a fourth successive drivers' championship.

Appreciating the task ahead, Norris said: "I'm 47 behind still, so it doesn't feel like I'm much closer I was. But every point helps.

"Charles [Leclerc] got fastest lap at the end, so that’s one point they took away from me.

"I'm just doing my own thing and focusing, and as a team, we're doing our own thing and focusing on ourselves.

"A lot of people are against us, but we'll keep pushing forward."