Max Verstappen has responded to McLaren's criticism regarding his defensive maneuvers during the recent US Grand Prix, suggesting that the team has been "complaining a lot lately." This remark comes after Lando Norris, Verstappen's title rival, received a five-second penalty for overtaking him off the track in the race's final moments. As a result, Norris was relegated to fourth place, one position behind Verstappen, who has now increased his championship lead to 57 points.

Lando Norris has expressed his frustration over what he describes as a "rushed decision" regarding a penalty he received after overtaking Max Verstappen during the US Grand Prix. The McLaren driver was penalized for the maneuver, which resulted in him dropping from third to fourth place, ultimately costing him crucial points in his championship battle against Verstappen. Norris and McLaren team principal Andrea Stella have criticized the FIA stewards for their intervention, arguing that it was an incorrect call that affected the outcome of the race. The two drivers engaged in an intense battle during the final ten laps, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc ultimately taking the victory. In a thrilling exchange, Norris managed to pass Verstappen by going around the outside of turn 12, but both drivers ended up off the track in the process. Following the incident, the stewards handed Norris a five-second penalty for the off-track overtake, leading to a reversal of their positions after they crossed the finish line.