**Verstappen Penalized Twice in Mexico City GP, Narrowing Championship Lead to 47 Points**

In an intense and dramatic Mexico City Grand Prix, Max Verstappen received two 10-second time penalties that effectively eliminated him from winning the race, ultimately allowing his championship rival Lando Norris to narrow the points gap to 47 with four race weekends remaining. The penalties were a result of two critical incidents involving Verstappen and Norris on the track.

The first altercation occurred as Norris pressured Verstappen following Carlos Sainz's reclaiming of the lead. Approaching Turn 4, Norris attempted a bold move on the outside. Verstappen's defensive maneuvers forced Norris off-track, compelling him to rejoin ahead of Verstappen. A subsequent exchange at Turn 8 saw Verstappen attempt a risky dive inside of Norris, leading to both drivers veering off the track. When they rejoined, Verstappen held third while Norris dropped to fourth, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc moving into second.

Norris expressed his frustration over team radio, labeling Verstappen's tactics as "dangerous." After reviewing the incidents with extensive video and data analysis, the stewards concluded that Verstappen was at fault. They penalized the Dutch driver for two breaches of the International Sporting Code, resulting in two separate 10-second penalties and two penalty points added to his record.

This decision reignited debates among teams and drivers. McLaren's CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella backed the stewards' penalties, though Brown remarked the penalties might not be severe enough. Stella highlighted the importance of consistent and fair adjudication, praising the FIA's efforts to review and improve their processes.

On the other hand, Red Bull's Team Principal Christian Horner offered a contrasting perspective, particularly on the Turn 4 incident. Presenting GPS data, Horner argued that Norris braked later than usual, suggesting he would not have made the corner properly, thereby defending Verstappen's racing line and defending conduct.

For the Turn 8 incident, however, Horner acknowledged the legitimacy of the penalty, suggesting Verstappen might have misjudged the situation expecting Norris to yield. Despite this, Horner emphasized that the overall racing regulations need clearer definitions to prevent such contentious judgments in future races.

As it stands, the penalties have significant implications for the championship. Verstappen now holds a narrowed 47-point lead over Norris, who must outperform Verstappen by an average of 12 points per weekend to snatch the title. Meanwhile, the constructors' championship remains fiercely contested, with McLaren leading, followed by Ferrari and Red Bull.

The Mexico City Grand Prix has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the season, with fans and teams eagerly awaiting the final rounds to see if Norris can close the gap further or if Verstappen will maintain his lead to claim the championship.