Red Bull boss Christian Horner has claimed the “very harsh” double penalty handed out to Max Verstappen for his tackle on Lando Norris at the Mexico City Grand Prix was a direct “reaction” to the row between the pair in the US seven days ago.

Verstappen saw his championship lead over Norris reduced to 47 points with four race weekends left this season after finishing Sunday’s race in sixth place, four places behind his McLaren rival, and was handed a total of 20-second penalty for two separate incidents while driving. He will compete with the Briton on the 10th lap of the race.

The incidents occurred a week after the duo’s contentious fight in Austin; Norris lost third place to Verstappen after being penalized for overtaking that stewards there ruled was illegal, sparking a debate about F1’s overtaking rules that have been talked about throughout this week. activity.

Reacting to the stewards’ decisions in Mexico on Sunday evening after a frustrating race that saw his team drop to third place in the Constructors’ Championship, Horner said: “First of all, I think it’s very difficult to give two people 10-second penalties.

“I think there is something more fundamental.

“There was a reaction to last weekend. I think it is very important that the referees and drivers sit down.”

Horner said Red Bull would not seek review rights for penalties as McLaren did with Norris’ Austin sanction, adding: “They just need to get back to basics. If you’re out there you’re not a priority.” .

“Otherwise you will encounter confusion in the last four races. It is important that the stewards and the drivers agree on something logical because there is an inconsistency.”

After the Austin debate F1 drivers discuss the sport’s overtaking rules At a briefing with the FIA ​​in Mexico on Friday night, they agreed that some changes needed to be made to the text of the document.

The updated rules are expected to arrive in time for the Qatar Grand Prix on December 1, the penultimate race of the season.

Horner added Sky Sports F1: “The question is, I think we’re going to get into very dangerous territory, at what point is a dive bomb going to work?”

‘Couldn’t have cleared the corner’ – Horner uses Norris data to defend Max

Speaking at a post-race briefing to the print media at Red Bull’s hospitality unit, Horner specifically objected to Verstappen’s first 10-second penalty, which the stewards said was due to the Dutchman pushing Norris off the track at Turn Four.

The Red Bull team boss used printouts of telemetry tracks from that corner to compare the Briton’s approach to the corner on that lap with his fastest in the race, suggesting McLaren would not be able to stay on track by lap 10. the speed it carries.

“As we run into turn four, you can see on the GPS that compared to Lando’s fastest lap in that corner in the Grand Prix, he was 15 km/h faster on the lap where he crashed with Max, and then he applied the brakes,” Horner suggested.

“He wouldn’t have been able to turn the corner and he could have gone off the track. You can see that from the steering wheel. At that point in the Grand Prix he probably had 80kg more fuel than at the point where he did his fastest lap.”

“It used to be a reward for the bravest to get around out there, but we’re in danger of overtaking laws being reversed when drivers try to stick their nose forward at the top and then claim they haven’t been given room.” at the exit.

“He emotionally let off the brakes and entered too late and tried to win the argument as far as these rules are written.

“That’s where you get penalized. At every kart track around the world, if you have the inside line, you control the corner. It’s one of the fundamental physics of racing.”

In the second incident at turn seven, the Red Bull boss admitted he could understand why his driver was penalised, but argued the incident was an “escalation” of what happened at turn three earlier.

“I think (turn seven) was different. Max was expecting Lando to give up there,” Horner added.

“He went inwards and they both went out. I can probably understand why effectively forcing a vehicle outwards there could be a penalty for that.”

“This was frustration with Lando potentially not giving the place back after the Turn Four incident. These things just escalate.”

Verstappen: Biggest problem is Red Bull’s lack of pace

Unusually for one of F1’s most outspoken figures, Verstappen largely remained reserved in his advice on what he actually thought about penalties both during and after the race.

The Dutch driver called the decisions “stupid” on Red Bull team radio during the race, but mostly focused afterwards on what was his and the team’s biggest concern.

“The problem is that when you slow down you get into these kinds of positions. I’m not going to give up easily,” said Verstappen. Sky Sports F1.

“At the end of the day it’s not about whether you agree with the penalties or not – it’s just that 20 seconds is a lot – but the big issue today and the thing I’m worried about is the race pace. It really wasn’t like that.” This is good and something we need to analyze. “Even without these penalties, we had no chance of fighting at the front.”

Verstappen won the Grand Prix without winning 10 races in a race that brought Norris back into a relatively distant title fight, but the reigning champion insisted: “I’m not worried (about the title).

“This was a really bad race for us, but I know we can do better than this, so we’ll keep going.”

Formula 1’s triple challenge in the Americas will end this weekend with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, and each session will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a Sports Month Membership NOW – No contract, cancel anytime