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Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, has voiced his concerns over the current regulations in the sport following a contentious incident involving Lando Norris and Max Verstappen during the United States Grand Prix this past weekend.
The dramatic moment unfolded as Norris attempted an overtaking maneuver around the outside of Verstappen into turn 12 during the race’s final stages. Verstappen, however, maintained the inside line, forcing Norris wide and leading both cars off-track. Although Norris crossed the finish line in third, he was later handed a five-second time penalty by race stewards for gaining an advantage by leaving the track.
During a post-race debrief on Sky Sports F1, Button challenged the existing regulatory framework, stating, “It’s all about who’s in front at the apex and Max was in front. But is that because he let off the brake at the apex? Your driver seems very good at understanding the regulations, and it’s more the problem that we need to have better regulations for what is okay and what isn’t.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner defended Verstappen’s actions, explaining that the outcome was in line with current rules, which prioritize who reaches the apex first. “Norris completed his overtake off the track while Verstappen was in front, so he maintained the advantage of the corner,” Horner stated.
However, Button countered Horner’s assertion, emphasizing the need for clearer guidelines to improve on-track competition. “We need a rule that you cannot push another completely off the track. Then I think we would have some better racing, so we wouldn’t have to keep talking about this,” he remarked.
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