Martin Brundle’s brutal live TV message for Max Verstappen during Mexico GP

Martin Brundle pulled no punches in his assessment of Max Verstappen’s contentious clash with Lando Norris in the Mexican Grand Prix’s early stages.

Following the safety car’s departure after Yuki Tsunoda’s first-lap crash and Carlos Sainz’s pass on Verstappen for the lead, the Red Bull driver and Norris battled for second place. Unlike the previous weekend in Austin, Norris led into the corner but was forced off track by Verstappen on exit.

The Dutchman refused to back down, engaging in more hazardous wheel-to-wheel action that saw both drivers briefly leave the circuit. Verstappen received two 10-second time penalties for forcing Norris off track and leaving the circuit to gain an advantage.

Reviewing the incident, Sky Sports commentator Brundle apologised to Verstappen before criticising the defending F1 champion. “I am sorry, Max, that is outrageous,” he said.

Brundle advocated for a 10-second penalty before the stewards’ ruling was announced and described Verstappen’s initial move on Norris as “a clear shove.” After Verstappen’s second penalty, the Sky F1 favourite added: “For me, I had a feeling he had something else coming his way.

“They punished him for the first one which was an insult and impudent. But the second one was just plain dangerous. Now he is carrying 20 seconds penalty. As quoted by the Express, that is just about a full pit stop.

The two drivers had earlier collided on circuit and Norris was fuming as he described Verstappen as a ‘risky’ driver. It was only a week back when things got out of hand at the Circuit of the Americas where Norris took a five second penalty reluctantly for an off track overtaking move against Verstappen who Norris said had paved him a way out.

After a narrow escape from collision at the Mexican race, Norris vented over his team radio: So I was leading the race the entire time through the turn. This guy is dangerous. It is the same as last time. I will be in the wall in a minute.”

He had the last chuckle though as he was classified second, he gained ten points on Verstappen in the battle for the drivers title. And after the race he said: I don’t believe that I need to speak much. It is fairly obvious on what happened. I did all I have been instructed to do in as much as what the rules are.

‘I approach every race thinking that I am going to have a very hard time with Max.’ As it is obvious that he doesn’t care whether he is the winner or the second best in the race, he just wants to defeat me in the race. He gets killed in the process, as he did today. I use the communities to have great wars but clean ones. Max is always going to be a difficult oar to handle regardless of where he is or what he is doing. Today was not fair clean racing and that’s why he got the penalty.”