Lando Norris penalty 'right' as ex-McLaren F1 racer backs 'firm but fair' Max Verstappen

Exclusive: Reflecting connected the tense conflict betwixt F1 rubric rivals Lando Norris and Max Verstappen successful Austin, erstwhile McLaren operator Mark Blundell gives his presumption connected the arguable outcome

Mark Blundell believes Lando Norris' arguable punishment successful Austin was "probably the right" outcome.

The Brit was penalised for overtaking Max Verstappen having gone disconnected the track. But that sparked plentifulness of statement arsenic the lone crushed helium had gone implicit the achromatic enactment was due to the fact that of the Dutchman's precocious braking connected the wrong which forced the McLaren off.

Many, including immoderate different drivers specified arsenic Lewis Hamilton, felt Verstappen should besides person been penalised for that move. But contempt his past affiliation with Norris' team, three-time F1 podium-sitter Blundell told Mirror Sport helium thinks the Red Bull racer's driving benignant is "firm but fair".

He said: "[Verstappen] understands precisely what helium needs to bash successful a contention car, whether that is starring oregon whether that is defending. And I deliberation that is the creation of driving.

"Sometimes determination are periods during the contention wherever you request to beryllium a small spot antiaircraft conscionable to effort to springiness yourself immoderate clip and abstraction to get your bushed backmost and regroup. And determination are points arsenic good wherever - let's not underestimate the science of dictating who is the brag retired determination connected the track.

"Max has decidedly made that number and I deliberation that is wherever Max came into the athletics and gave everybody an alarm bell. It is just, 'Whoa, okay, this feline is prepared to enactment it wherever it needs to beryllium and enactment it connected the line'.

"That, for me, is what motorsport is each about. I person ever said that the enjoyment origin for maine is watching gladiators vie 150 miles an hour, going into crook one. And I deliberation Max does that clip and clip again."

Reflecting connected Norris' punishment for overtaking disconnected track, Blundell added: "I deliberation that astir apt the result of that was the close one. And I lone accidental that successful the respect that it did look similar it was wholly disconnected the road. The contented volition beryllium wherefore was helium disconnected the road? Why did it request to beryllium disconnected the road?

"I deliberation the occupation is that erstwhile you look astatine the mode that country is designed and you look astatine what you tin really execute by going underneath somebody, the result is ever going to beryllium the aforesaid outcome. Because if idiosyncratic leaves the doorway unfastened and allows idiosyncratic to get underneath them, it is specified an acute apex constituent that the exit is going to beryllium 1 trajectory lone and if you are going to stay connected the extracurricular of that country the likelihood are that you are going to beryllium disconnected the track.

"It is rather a hard concern to monitor. As I say, I deliberation it is conscionable 1 of those quirky small corners that is ever going to beforehand that and the lone mode to bash thing antithetic is to spell successful determination with specified a choky enactment that you support it and you bash not springiness anybody the anticipation of getting underneath you."

Former Formula 1 operator Mark Blundell spoke to Mirror Sport via Ace Odds.