Why Verstappen’s late clash in Austin with a punishing Norris is a repeat of the 2021 Brazilian championship

If you want to understand how intelligent – even genius – Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen is, watch exactly how Lando attacked Norris at the start of the 2024 United States Grand Prix. Then he “defended” against him in the contest’s controversial conclusion.

This latest saga has been frustratingly overshadowed Brilliant The win was scored by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in Austin on Sunday. The problem boils down to why the Turn 1 and 12 battles between Verstappen and Norris were essentially the same tactic mocking the world champion.

Here the specter of the 2021 campaign campaign rises – when Verstappen and his Red Bull team battled Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes so bitterly. Given the back-and-forth over ‘mini-DRS’ and Bib-gate at McLaren and Red Bull respectively in the last two races, as well as this being another season with several controversial clashes with the title champions, 2024 is firmly set for a repeat.

However, it is here specifically that the 2021 Brazilian race is what really matters. And what it was like heading into Turn 4 at Interlagos with Hamilton and his new engine firing in the greatest British win ever in Formula 1, as Verstappen continued to advance with the inside line he had taken in defense. Both flew into the runoff and Red Bull remained in the lead.

As with Interlagos, the video feed on board Verstappen’s car in Austin was also broadcast in reverse – something to keep in mind when remembering how quickly the stewards made that call. This is something FIA sources insisted to Autosport after the race, and is in line with what teams have pushed for in terms of supervision decisions affecting podium finishes. It seems that entertainment trumps justice.

There are differences here from Brazil 2021, but they are important. As for Norris in Austin three years later, he overtook off-track, but McLaren did not order him to turn around and attack again.

When asked by this writer why not on Sunday night, team principal Andrea Stella explained that “in the pitlane and under my responsibility – but there was complete agreement from all the people involved in this interpretation – this situation did not need to be investigated.”

“If anything, we thought the investigation should be because Max pushed Lando off the track,” he added. “This is what we thought would happen when we saw that the case was under investigation. So, for us, there was no need to give up this position.”

As for Hamilton in the Interlagos classic, he was able to pass in the same place after a short period of time anyway and went on to win. Verstappen was not investigated in that case and here – by doing what the 2021 Mercedes couldn’t do in a different run-off, Norris was penalized for five seconds.

Although the speed characteristics of Turn 4 in Brazil and Turn 12 in Austin are different, McLaren insiders are convinced that Verstappen’s maneuver here is in the same category as Brazil 2021.

Stella also asked, after he said “the defending car goes straight on the apex” to Verstappen at Turn 12 in Austin, if this was “Brazil 2021 all over again?”

“That was extreme because of the speed with which Max missed the top in Brazil,” he replied. “If you switched to Max, it would have been a big crash at the time. That speed was much slower so it could be a little more moderate. But that’s the truth – do you defend by going off the track? And that’s not allowed.”

But Brazil’s point remains relevant. After digging around a bit on the dictaphone, it’s become clear that despite the different speed profiles of Turn 4 in Brazil and Turn 12 in Austin (plus differing investigation results/penalties), McLaren insiders are convinced that Verstappen’s maneuver here is in the same class as in Brazil. 2021.

Class is the key word. Because Verstappen is so good, it is clear that after he raced cleanly with Leclerc in early 2022, there was a gap after that during the time when there was no opposition at the head of the pack for two years. At that time, he had mastered essentially the same tactic. It now complies with current Formula 1 racing rules and that’s a big deal.

WATCH: Why Verstappen’s move on Norris is more controversial than it sounds – F1 US GP reaction

Verstappen once again showed that he is willing to be absolutely ruthless to win – in this case, extending his points gap to his title rival with the race already lost. To some extent, that must be respected – and some no doubt applauded it. But it’s the ridicule of what’s happening so frequently now that spoils the taste of what has otherwise been another great F1 race this season. One with great performance from multiple drivers.

The main disagreement is how F1’s 2024 Driving Standards Guidelines (DSG) – a copy of which Autosport has seen – does not cover what he does. Which is: turning defense into attack. Similar to Brazil 2021. The point at which cunning turns to cunning is in a giant run-off area (and the lack of a small gravel trap at Turns 1 or 12 in Austin is another completely relevant topic here).

DSG only covers – in 266 words and three quick sections – ‘overtaking from the inside of a corner’ and ‘overtaking from the outside of a corner’ (the capitals are the FIA ​​names). There is an additional explanation for “chicanes and S-bends”, which does not apply here.

When it comes to the Norris penalty, the latter states that “to be entitled to space, including on the exit,” the outside attacking car must have its front axle at least next to the apex and at the exit. Norris complies in this case, albeit on a large scale until he derails.

The outside attack vehicle must also be safely driven and controlled throughout this step. No problem there for Norris. He must be able to make the angle within the limits of the track in these cases.

This is where GPS tracking data becomes crucial. Looking at the lap in question and the previous lap, Norris brakes at the same point each time and cuts the corner, obviously, the first time – with Verstappen veering slightly to the left than he would soon do. The only car to subsequently brake at all four points was Verstappen’s car in the clash that sent them both off the road.

Norris was penalized for crossing the track. “It was considered a case of leaving the track and taking a permanent advantage” in the relevant FIA bulletin. The supervisors noted that he was also “not at the top level of car 1.”

But adding “Car 4 had no alternative but to leave the track due to its proximity to Car 1, which had also left the track” to explain why Norris only received a five-second penalty and not 10, which was the submission’s argument. The penalty was completely undermined.

Norris got ahead of Verstappen off the track and was unable to pull away to negate the five-second penalty

Photography: Glenn Dunbar/Motorsports Images

What happened was either the fair result or Verstappen should have been punished. But Verstappen was not – despite Stella saying McLaren was so convinced he would “tell Oscar”. [Piastri, behind in fifth] Immediately make sure it closes within five seconds of Max because there may be a position at stake. This tracking data suggests why.

In his defence, echoed by team boss Christian Horner, Verstappen only deflected in the post-race press conference, saying “It’s very clear in the rules: outside the white line, you can’t overtake.” “I’ve also finished in the past,” he added, referring to the 2017 US Grand Prix here.

There are sub-issues at play. When evaluating each investigated engagement, stewards have discretion and these guidelines are exactly that. They even say “non-binding”, before the vague “racing is a dynamic process”.

This is the genius of Verstappen’s moves. It forces the problem through a race to the top – so the original attacker will either choose to crash or will lose by the rules

After the race in Austin, Mercedes’ George Russell also called for the “same stewards all year” – another long-standing issue with Formula 1 rules. Russell is important here because he was penalized for a very similar incident with Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas at the same place with 39 laps to go. . Key difference: Russell was clearly attacking.

The Briton explained: “Under the letter of the law, my punishment was correct.”

The guidelines for overtaking on the inside, which Verstappen actually ends up doing by braking later at Turn 12, have three main requirements. The attacker must “have his front axis at least along the other vehicle’s mirror no later than the apex of the corner.” Verstappen achieves this by braking later.

The attacker must also not force the other vehicle out in such a move and leave a “fair and acceptable offer” at all times. The attacker must also stay within the path boundaries. Verstappen does not adhere to the last two points. But because the rules do not cover offense as a form of defence, full responsibility still falls on Norris.

Racing to the top with Norris allowed Verstappen to exploit gray areas in the race rules guidelines

Photography: Sam Bagnall/Motorsport Pictures

This is the genius of Verstappen’s moves. It forces the problem through a race to the top – so the original attacker will either choose to collapse or lose under the rules.

A collision might have been a better option for Norris last Sunday – and at the first corner for that matter – given that it would have resulted in the stewards calling in discretion at the subsequent investigation, which would have been certain to be heard from both drivers. McLaren is also angry that this did not actually happen in Austin.

Overall, this is terrible – not to mention how much more the DNF will impact Norris in the title standings as a chaser.

The FIA ​​can help solve this problem. First, by publishing guidelines. Why don’t we showcase that, like football does with VAR?

Secondly, the team now needs to impose another ‘Max Verstappen rule’. While the short-lived 2016 edition dealt with questionable moves while braking, the governing body must specifically codify how a defense can legally turn into an attacker and ban the art of diving in the race to the top that Verstappen perfected. You should do this before the next race in Mexico.

Or, in fact, scrap the guidelines entirely. Either way, they are being amazingly and ridiculously exploited right now. This is not true.

Doing so would alleviate the cynicism many Formula 1 fans feel now. This has been reinforced by Horner’s 2024 behavior scandal and all the controversies over flexible wings and other design tricks.

In the end, the ‘Verstappen defence’ move list was as follows: Brazil 2021, Jeddah 2021, Las Vegas 2023, Budapest 2024 (when Verstappen was effectively the attacker at turn one and went into a ‘let them race’ approach on the first lap that came into effect in Austin start too) and now this year’s US Grand Prix. enough.

In the end, Verstappen’s aggressive attack cost Leclerc his track position, but it cost Norris much more than that.

Photography: Andreas Bell