"They complain about a lot lately," Verstappen referrs to McLaren
On the back of his latest fierce on-track battle with Lando Norris at last Sunday's United States Grand Prix, reigning world champion Max Verstappen noted that rules are "quite clear" regarding the overtaking manoeuvres.
Having started from P2 on the grid, Max Verstappen took an aggressive approach at the start, slightly forcing his championship rival Lando Norris wide at Turn 1, which allowed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc through.
The Dutchman hung on to second after the first-corner melee, but he then lost out to Carlos Sainz in the pit stops, who elected to pit earlier than his direct rivals.
The closing stages of the race saw Norris close in on Verstappen, who started to struggle on his aging tyres. Despite being on six laps older tyres, the reigning champion defended superbly for lap after lap to keep his rival at bay. However, Norris eventually make it through, overtaking his rival in the run-off zone at Turn 12 for which he was later handed a five-second penalty.
Pushed on to elaborate on the battle with his championship rival Lando Norris at Turn 1, Verstappen noted: "There was a gap on the inside, so I went for it. That corner is very wide, so it gives you a lot of opportunity of going very wide or try to go really tight.
"I chose for that option, and I still came out second! Started second, came out second out of Turn 1. This time, of course, it was Charles in front. I think it worked out quite well for me because Charles was anyway faster, so he just pulled away. From there, I just tried to do my own race."
Pushed on to explain the incident between himself and Norris with just four laps to go, the three-time world champion added: "I just tried to do the best I could, to be honest. My balance wasn't great.
"I was just not really... I was not able to attack the corners. So, yeah, he was putting a lot of pressure. But around here, it's quite a cool track to defend. There are a lot of possibilities. So, yeah, it makes it good for racing.
"I think it's quite clear: you can't overtake outside of the white line. I mean, I got done for it also here in, I think, 2017 or whatever it was. So I lost my podium like that.
"So I just remained calm, tried to do the best I could after that to bring the car to the end because it was not easy with the tyres and the situation that I was in. But yeah, overall, I still really enjoyed that battle that we had.
Verstappen contined: "I mean, they complain about a lot lately anyway, but it's very clear in the rules. Outside the white line, you cannot pass. I've been done for it as well in the past."
Asked whether gravel trap could improve the situation in corners which tempt drivers to go outside and attempt an overtaking manoeuvre, Verstappen said that it would cost a lot to constantly change the critical run-off zones.
"I mean, it might help, but we have to deal with bikes as well that race here. They don't like the gravel, so then you have to remove it again. Track days, people spinning off, of course, on track days.
"You have amateur drivers, professional drivers. It does cost a lot of money when you have to do that, and not every track can do that throughout the year. Yes, it would work, but on the other hand, I'm not sure how sustainable that is for the season."
