Verstappen's late Austin clash with Ken Norris is a repeat for Brazil 2021

To understand just how brilliant – brilliant, even – Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen is, watch exactly how he attacked Lando Norris at the start of the 2024 United States Grand Prix. And then 'defend' against him in the contest's controversial conclusion.

This latest story has been disappointingly received bright Ferrari's Charles Leclerc wins in Austin on Sunday. And the problem is why the Turn 1 and Turn 12 Verstappen vs Norris battles were essentially the same gimmicky maneuver from the world champion.

Here's the spirit of the 2021 campaign – when Verstappen and his Red Bull squad battled it out bitterly with Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. Given McLaren and Red Bull's tit-for-tat squabbles over 'mini-DRS' and bib-gates respectively in the last two races, plus it's yet another season of multiple contentious racing clashes with title protagonists, 2024 is firmly shaping up to be a repeat.

Especially here, however, it's the 2021 Brazilian race that really matters. And Verstappen was steamed with the inside line he took in the defense as he went into Turn 4 at Interlagos with Hamilton and his fresh engine clashed with the UK's greatest-ever F1 win. Both flew in the runoff and Red Bull stayed ahead.

As in Interlagos, Verstappen's onboard video feed in Austin was also critically broadcasting backwards – something to bear in mind when remembering how quickly the stewards made this call. This is something that FIA sources stressed to Autosport post-race, which is in line with what teams have stressed about stewarding decisions that affect podium appearances. Entertainment apparently trumps justice…

There are differences here with Brazil 2021 – but they are important. As for Norris three years later in Austin, how he overtook off-track, but McLaren didn't command him to give back the place and attack again.

When asked by this writer why not on Sunday night, team principal Andrea Stella explained that “at Pitwall and under my responsibility – but this explanation was fully agreed by all the people involved – there was no need to investigate this situation”.

“If anything, we thought there should be an investigation to push Max Landau off the track,” he added. “When we saw that the case was under investigation we thought this would happen. So, for us, there was no need to return the position.”

In that Interlagos Classic for Hamilton, he was able to pass moments later in the same spot and win anyway. Verstappen was also not investigated in that case and here – Norris was penalized five seconds for doing what the 2021 Mercedes couldn't.

Although the speed specifications for Turn 4 Brazil and Turn 12 Austin are different, McLaren insiders are confident that Verstappen's strategy here is in the same class as at Brazil 2021.

I also asked Stella if it was “Brazil 2021 again?”

“It was extreme because of the speed at which Max missed the top spot in Brazil,” he replied. “If you turned into Max, it was a big accident at the time. This one, it was a much slower pace so it could have been a more benign situation. But that's just the reality – do you get off track? It cannot be justified.”

But the Brazil point remains relevant. After some digging away from the dictaphones, it became clear that although the speed characteristics of Turn 4 Brazil and Turn 12 Austin are different (as well as the opposite investigation/penalty results), McLaren insiders are convinced that Verstappen's technique here is of the same class. As of Brazil 2021.

Class is the keyword. As Verstappen is so good, it is clear that a break occurred after he raced Leclerc cleanly in the early 2022 race, during which he had no opposition at the head of the pack for two years. During that time, he essentially perfected the same technique. This is now in line with F1's current racing rules and is a huge problem.

WATCH: Why Verstappen's move on Norris is more controversial than it seems – F1 US GP race reaction

Verstappen showed once again that he is willing to be completely ruthless to win – in this case the race win was already well lost with his points increase over his title rival. To a certain extent that should be respected – appreciated by some, no doubt. But it's the cynicism of what's happening now and again that sours the flavor of an otherwise brilliant F1 race this term. One with fantastic performance from multiple drivers.

The main dispute is how F1's 2024 Driving Standards Directive (DSG) – a copy of which Autosport has seen – does not cover what he is doing. And that is: turning defense into attack. A la Brazil 2021. The point at which trickery becomes easier in a huge runoff area (and the lack of even a small gravel trap in Turns 1 or 12 in Austin is another, relevant, matter here entirely).

The DSG only covers – in 266 words and three quick sections – “overtaking on the inside of a corner” and “overtaking on the outside of a corner” (the capitals are the FIA's). There is an additional explanation for 'chickens and S-bends', which does not apply here.

When it comes to the Norris penalty, the latter states that the outside attacking car must have its front axle at least over the top and side of the exit “to be entitled to room with the exit”. Norris complies in this case, although he goes off the track quite wide.

An outside attack vehicle must also be safely maneuvered and controlled during such maneuvers. No problem for Norris. And it must be able to make angles within track limits in this case.

Here, GPS trace data becomes important. Looking at the lap in question and the tour earlier, Norris braked at the same point each time and made the corner, apparently, the first time – while Verstappen swerved a bit less to the left which he would soon do. The only car to brake after four points was Verstappen's collision with both off the road.

Norris was penalized because he overtook off the track. This was “considered a case of gaining a lasting advantage by leaving the track”, in the relevant FIA bulletin. The stewards noted that he was “no match for top car 1”.

But while adding “Car 4 had little choice but to leave the track due to its proximity to Track 1, which also left the track” to explain why Norris was only given a five-second penalty and not 10, the appeal argued. An endorsement is completely degraded.

Norris went ahead of Verstappen outside the track limits and could not deny his five-second penalty.

Photo: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

What happened was either a fair result or Verstappen should have been penalised. But Verstappen wasn't – despite Stella saying McLaren was so sure he would be the one” told Oscar. [Piastri, behind in fifth] Immediately to make sure he closes within five seconds of Max because there could be a position at stake”. And that trace data suggests why.

In his defence, echoed by team boss Christian Horner, Verstappen only deviated in the post-race press conference, saying “it's very clear in the rules: beyond the white line, you can't pass”. “I've done it in the past,” he added, referring to the 2017 US GP here.

There are sub-problems within the game. When assessing each investigated collision, stewards have discretion and the guidelines are just that. Even they say, “not bound”, just before Nebulous “racing is a dynamic process”.

This is the genius of Verstappen's moves. He's forcing the issue by racing to the top – so the real attacker either chooses to crash or lose under the rules

Post-race in Austin, Mercedes' George Russell also called for “the same stewards all year” – another long-standing problem with F1's rules. And Russell is key here as he was penalized for a very similar incident with Sauber's Valtteri Bottas at the same spot 39 laps earlier. Key difference: Russell was clearly attacking.

“My sentence was correct according to the letter of the law,” the Briton explained.

Guidelines for overtaking on the inside, which Verstappen effectively completed by braking at Turn 12, have three key requirements. The attacker must “have his front axle next to the other car's mirrors later than the apex of the corner”. Verstappen achieved this by braking later.

The attacker must not force the other vehicle to exit in such steps and must leave a “fair and acceptable width” throughout. The attacker must stay within the track range. Verstappen doesn't adhere to the last two points. But since the rules don't cover attack as a defense, all liability still falls on Norris.

The race to the top with Norris allowed Verstappen to exploit the gray areas in the racing rules guidelines

Photo: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

This is the genius of Verstappen's moves. He's forcing the issue by racing to the top – so the main attacker either chooses to crash or lose under the rules.

Crashing might even have been a good option for Norris last Sunday – and at Turn 1 for that matter – as it could have triggered a prudent steward call at the subsequent inquest, which certainly heard from both drivers. McLaren is also furious that it didn't actually happen in Austin.

Overall, it's terrifying — not to mention how a DNF would affect Norris even more in the title position as a chaser.

FIA can help solve this problem. First, the guidelines reveal. Why not make a show of it like football does with VAR?

Second, it now has to apply another 'Max Verstappen rule'. While the short-lived 2016 edition dealt with questionable maneuvers under braking, the governing body must codify how a defending attack turns into a particularly legal and race-to-the-apex dive art perfected by Verstappen. This should be done before the next race in Mexico.

Or, really, just scrap the guidelines entirely. Either way – they are currently being exploited, spectacularly, cruelly. And that's not right.

Doing so would ease the cynicism fatigue many F1 fans are now experiencing. It's been turbocharged by the 2024 Horner behavior scandal and all the fuss over flexi-wings and other design tricks.

Ultimately, the list of these 'Verstappen Defence' moves now reads: Brazil 2021, Jeddah 2021, Las Vegas 2023, Budapest 2024 (when Verstappen was actually the aggressor at Turn 1 and ran on the 'let them race' lap one approach would also work in Austin) And now this year's US GP. enough

Verstappen's early aggression eventually cost Leclerc track position, but Norris cost much more

Photo: Andreas Bale