Max Verstappen’s aggressive driving style was on full display at the Mexico City Grand Prix, intensifying his rivalry with McLaren’s Lando Norris. Starting just behind pole-sitter and eventual race winner Carlos Sainz, Verstappen fiercely defended his position against Norris. In two separate incidents, he forced Norris wide, an aggressive maneuver that led to two 10-second penalties, pushing Verstappen to a sixth-place finish. With his championship lead narrowed to 47 points, Verstappen’s position atop the driver standings faces added pressure.

Notably, Verstappen now has six penalty points on his FIA Super Licence. The rules, introduced in 2014, dictate that any driver accumulating 12 points within 12 months faces a one-race suspension. Red Bull’s top driver is edging closer to this threshold, a rare but serious penalty risk. Earlier in the season, Kevin Magnussen of Haas became the first driver this year to receive a race ban due to excessive penalty points.