Norris pips Verstappen as world title battle heats up

Carlos Sainz for Ferrari won the race in Mexico City

- SCOTT HUNT

Lando Norris cut Max Verstappen’s world championship lead by 10 points after the Red Bull driver was handed 20 seconds in penalties as he forced his title rival off the track in a dramatic Mexican Grand Prix.

Norris drove a brilliant final stint to finish second in Mexico City, behind winner Carlos Sainz but crucially four places ahead of Verstappen as he cut the lead to 47 points with four races remaining and 120 points to play for.

Norris was demoted behind Verstappen after being penalised for overtaking his rival off the track in Austin last time out, with the incident dominating the agenda throughout this weekend.

McLaren challenged that five-second penalty as they arrived in Mexico, claiming that Norris was ahead and Verstappen had forced him off the track, but the stewards rejected their right of review.

The title protagonists came together again just 10 laps in at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as Norris was forced to leave the track twice within three corners.

Verstappen forced Norris wide at turn five before charging into turn eight, running Norris off the track and staying ahead as the McLaren man skirted with the wall.

On this occasion the stewards agreed that the Dutchman was in the wrong. The championship leader was initially handed a 10second penalty for forcing Norris off the track at turn five.