The FIA ​​handed out 20-second time penalties to Max Verstappen as he resumed his battle with Lando Norris in Mexico.

The first early-race flashpoint between the two came at Turn 4 as Norris attempted to go around the outside Verstappen at Turn 4 but took it on the run-off, forced by Verstappen, the stewards decided. And later, at Turn 8, Verstappen completed an off-track pass on Norris and did not return to the position, with the marshals ruling that he had left the track and gained a lasting advantage.

Max Verstappen has 20 seconds added to his Mexican GP time

The stewards awarded a pair of 10-second time penalties to Verstappen in response, with the Dutchman eventually finishing 6th at the checkered flag, while Norris was 2nd, reducing Verstappen’s value. Drivers’ Championship leads by 47 points with four rounds to go.

First, explaining their verdict on the Turn 4 incident between Verstappen and Norris, the stewards noted that they: “Reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, radio and video evidence in the car.

“Norris was trying to pass on the outside of Verstappen at Turn 4. Norris was ahead of Verstappen on the entry, apex and exit of the corner when he started to be forced off the track.

“The stewards believe that the maneuver was carried out in a safe and controlled manner and that Norris would have been able to complete the maneuver on the track had he not been forced off the track by Verstappen.

“Norris cut the corner but immediately gave Sainz back the position he had gained as a result. The sentence is the standard sentence in such cases.”

Max Verstappen vs Lando Norris continues in Interlagos

F1 schedule: when is the next F1 race and where is it?

F1 2024: Head-to-head racing statistics between teammates

And about what when we were at Turn 8: “Stewards reviewed the video, CCTV and in-car video evidence.

“Following the Turn 4 incident, Verstappen attempted to overtake Norris on the inside at Turn 8. Verstappen was ahead at the apex of Turn 8 and would have been entitled to the race hall. However, he was unable to complete the on-track maneuver, left the track and held on to a lasting advantage by winning the position, coincidentally forcing Norris off the track.

“The penalty is the standard punishment for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage.”

Next up is the Brazilian Grand Prix, a race Verstappen has won twice in his career, including last season when he won by 8.2 seconds over runner-up Norris.

Read on: Max Verstappen’s Verstappen ‘not my problem’ after FIA gives 20-second penalty