Lando Norris Says Max Verstappen Will Fight Harder Despite F1 Ban Risk

Lando Norris believes Max Verstappen will continue to compete aggressively on track, even though Verstappen is just one penalty point away from a Formula 1 race ban. The Red Bull Racing driver picked up three penalty points and a 10-second penalty after a recent incident with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix.

With those points, Verstappen’s total now stands at 11. Reaching 12 points within a 12-month period results in an automatic one-race ban under F1 regulations.

Norris, who has raced alongside Verstappen for several seasons and engaged in close battles during last year’s championship, says Verstappen’s driving style is a key part of his success. Speaking ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Norris dismissed suggestions that Verstappen should adopt a less risky approach to avoid missing a race.

He explained that Verstappen’s talent comes from his signature driving style and that drivers cannot expect him to change just because of the threat of a race ban.

Verstappen faced heavy criticism after the collision with Russell, which took place two weeks ago in Spain. The collision led to penalties that have put Verstappen under pressure, with several voices weighing in on the matter, including comments from Horner and Rosberg.

Despite the increased scrutiny and looming risk, Verstappen was direct when asked whether he would change his behavior, responding, “Why should I?” Norris echoed this sentiment, stating that Verstappen’s results have come from his determination and racing instincts, which he doubts will change.

Norris highlighted that while Verstappen admitted he should not have made the move that caused the crash, he doubted this single event would alter the Dutchman’s outlook for the rest of the season. The McLaren driver added that when racing head-to-head, it is impossible to predict if Verstappen will leave more space or be any less combative.

He stressed that making assumptions about Verstappen’s future actions would not help rivals, as Verstappen is still motivated to chase down points in the championship.

At this stage of the season, Verstappen finds himself trailing his main rivals. Norris suspects that will only encourage Verstappen to push even harder in the coming races.

He explained that drivers can only focus on their own actions, rather than try to second-guess what others might do during close racing situations. For Norris, the only constant is that Verstappen will “fight more” and not hold back, even as he approaches the threshold for a one-race suspension.

The Canadian Grand Prix takes place this weekend, with Verstappen and Norris both among the key contenders. Fans and teams alike will be watching closely to see how Verstappen approaches racing under the shadow of a potential ban.

The season remains open, with every race holding critical championship points and the tense rivalry between Verstappen and his competitors set to continue.