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Max Verstappen believes he is being treated unfavorably by the British press – which dominates Formula 1 – over his fight with Lando Norris at the US GP, saying “I can’t complain because I don’t have the right passport”.
The FIA stewards at the US GP imposed a 5” penalty on Lando Norris because on the 52nd lap of the race last Sunday (20/10) he passed Verstappen for 3rd place by going off track.
Since then, much of the Formula 1 press, as well as members of the sport such as Toto Wolff, have been critical of the stewards’ decision, suggesting that Verstappen himself should have been penalized for pushing Norris off the track – as had been done earlier in the same match with the penalty George Russell received for it.
McLaren has lodged a formal request with the FIA to review Norris’ penalty, in the hope that the English driver will regain the 3rd place he lost due to the penalty. The hearing for this request will take place today (25/10) on the sidelines of the Mexican GP free tests.
But Max Verstappen is still proud of the way he fended off Norris, who was much faster at that point because he had much fresher tires than the Dutchman’s Red Bull. And he went on to say that he cannot complain because he has the “wrong passport”.
“First of all, I didn’t really expect to be able to keep him behind me because he was so much faster.” said the champion speaking to Viaplay.
“I didn’t have any grip but I did my best and in the end we finished ahead of him with the penalty, so we shouldn’t complain. I have the wrong passport, it’s from the wrong country, to complain”he added.
When the Viaplay reporter pressed Max to answer if he is on the British passport, the Dutchman confirmed: “In this area, yes. I am very happy with the passport I have. But in this area, obviously I should have had a different passport.” concluded the 26-year-old.
In saying this, Verstappen refers to similar statements Fernando Alonso has made at times about the treatment of non-British drivers by the English Formula 1 press.
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