The title battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen is starting to get heated between the pair with just four races left in the season. At the US Grand Prix, Lando Norris cost himself a few points after battling with Max Verstappen for the final podium position and overtaking him off-track. Verstappen’s driving was also the subject of controversy, with the Dutchman pushing the limits of what is acceptable under the driving guidelines.

At the next round in Mexico, Norris was wise to his tactics and attempted a more robust overtake at Turn 4 of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez early in the race. The Dutchman put up a stern defence, banging wheels with Norris and forcing the McLaren to run off track. The stewards investigated the incident and issued Verstappen with a 10-second time penalty, which would be the first of two he would receive after another incident at Turn 8.

Martin Brundle felt the move was ‘ridiculous’ at Turn 8, while Damon Hill felt Verstappen had ‘let himself down’ by racing unfairly. Analysing the overtakes on F1 TV, former driver Jolyon Palmer spotted something Norris did that was different to the incident in Austin. Jolyon Palmer spots the difference in Lando Norris driving in Mexico compared to AustinPart of the reason why Norris was penalised in Austin was for effectively not being far enough alongside Verstappen when he attempted the overtake at Turn 12.

In Mexico, Norris made sure that his car was fully alongside at Turn 4 before trying to make the pass stick around the outside. Horner argued that he was never going to make the corner when speaking to media after the race, even bringing his own data sheet to illustrate his point, but Palmer believes Norris had earned the right to racing room. “You can see how much Lando has changed since Austin, because he commits much more at Turn 4.

Just giving it much more on the entry, this is the way the rules are written now whereby you have to get ahead of the apex. Norris knows it, he is ahead at the apex point,” said Palmer. “Christian Horner said after the race to media that he had the telemetry of Norris’ corner and said he braked so late he was never going to make it, I actually think he can make the corner.

He will keep at least two wheels on track, but there is a little bit of contract before he is forced off track fully. ”Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesChristian Horner wants more clarity on driving standards Verstappen has often borne the brunt of criticism for his driving throughout a season after being penalised for moving under braking during the Austrian GP in a battle with Norris. The marginal defensive manoeuvre in Austin made some question whether Verstappen became the attacking driver and if Norris earned the right to room on the outside.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriendMcLaren went as far as filing a right to review the incident on Friday with the FIA, but this was ultimately rejected because no new evidence was presented to the stewards. After what happened in Mexico between the pair, Horner wants further clarity as he felt Verstappen’s second move at Turn 8 was acceptable and did not warrant the ‘harsh’ 10-second time penalty.