‘I was ready to expect something like this’ – Norris offers take on Verstappen’s ‘not very clean driving’ after latest battle in Mexico

McLaren driver Lando Norris branded Max Verstappen’s driving as “not very clean” in the wake of their latest dramatic battle during the early stages of the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Norris attempted to wrestle second spot away from Verstappen around the outside of Turn 4 on Lap 10 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez but was forced wide by the reigning world champion.

READ MORE: Sainz surges to Mexico victory ahead of Norris and Leclerc as Verstappen hit with two penalties for Norris moves

Norris cut the grass at Turn 5 and re-joined ahead of Verstappen, before the Red Bull man then attempted to re-gain the position by lunging to the inside into the left-hander at Turn 8.

Both Verstappen and Norris went wide through the run-off, allowing Charles Leclerc through, and stewards investigated both incidents.

Verstappen was deemed culpable for forcing Norris off at Turn 4, and for leaving the track and gaining an advantage through Turn 8, and was handed two separate 10-second time penalties by the stewards as a result.

As the Red Bull man went on to finish the race in sixth, forced to serve his combined 20 seconds of penalties at the pit stop, Norris went on to finish in second place, having profited when Leclerc made a mistake through the final corner on Lap 62.

MUST-SEE: Verstappen and Norris go wheel-to-wheel again in gripping Mexico City scrap as title leader cops two penalties

“I knew what to expect,” Norris said on his battle with Verstappen immediately after hopping out of the car.

“I didn’t want to expect such a thing, because I respect him a lot as a driver, but I was ready to expect something like this – and this is not very clean driving in my opinion. But I avoided it and it was a good race.”

Norris’ podium – his 12th of the season – enabled him to reduce Verstappen’s title advantage to 47 points, after the Dutchman finished in sixth place following his penalties.

On his title prospects Norris said: “I just keep my head down, you know. I’m doing my best. We’re doing a very good job as a team.

“I think today we were probably the quickest in the end. But we’ll keep our head down, that’s all I can do for now, focus on ourselves, and we’ll keep pushing.”

RACE START: Watch a dramatic getaway in Mexico City as Verstappen beats Sainz to Turn 1 while Gasly, Albon and Tsunoda clash