Christian Horner doubts that Lando Norris would have made it through Turn 4 without going off the track in his battle with Max Verstappen in the first of two incidents at the Mexican Grand Prix, in which the Dutchman received a 10-second penalty.

Norris made a move on the outside of Verstappen at Turn 4 on lap ten after catching up with DRS, and the two were side-by-side at the apex. Verstappen was then credited with leading Norris wide into the run-out and onto the grass.

This preceded the second incident of the lap, in which Norris – who was now in the lead at this point – was forced off the road by Verstappen in Turn 7 as the Red Bull driver entered the corner hot.

Horner, who used printouts of GPS recordings to illustrate his point in a session with the media, believes Norris braked much later in the corner than on his fastest lap later in the race.

“First of all, I think it was very tough to give two 10-second penalties,” Horner said. “I think there is something more fundamental; I mean, obviously there was a reaction to last weekend.

“I think it's very important for the stewards and the drivers to sit down. Because (if you look at the GPS) this is on the track until Turn 4.”

“This is actually Lando versus Lando. On Lando’s fastest lap of the Grand Prix, the point where he brakes into Turn 4 and then obviously executes the corner.”

“On the lap where he had the incident with Max, he was 15 kilometers per hour faster and braked later than his fastest lap at the Grand Prix.”

“If he hadn't made the corner, he would have gone off the track. You can see this in its integrated steering. Of course, at this point in the race he probably has 80kg more fuel than when he reached his fastest finish.” Lap.

Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Erwin Jaeggi

“It used to be a reward for the bravest to drive around the outside. I think we are in danger of turning the overtaking laws on their head, so that drivers simply try to be ahead at the apex and then claim that they need to be given space at the exit.

“You can clearly see that he effectively stepped off the brakes, got in very late to try and win this argument, as far as these rules are written, and then you get penalized at that point.”

According to Horner, the subsequent incident was a more understandable penalty, suggesting that Verstappen had expected Norris to give up the place and was ultimately frustrated that his championship rival had not done so.

He added that it was important that Formula One rule makers reiterate the importance of the inside line and urged them not to “overcomplicate” the racing guidelines.

“I think the Turn 7 incident is different. I think Max expected Lando to give up the pace, he obviously went inside there and they both missed.”

“I can understand that there is a penalty for pushing the car far away.”

“But I think that was the frustration that Lando might not be able to return the place after that incident. So these things just escalate.”

“I just think we might be overcomplicating things. And if you have to refer to an operating manual during an overtaking maneuver…

“I mean, the racing principles for years have been: If you have the inside line, you dictate the corner.”

“And I think the way the regulations or guidelines have evolved encourages a driver to be ahead at the apex regardless of whether you can make the corner.”