Driver-turned-FIA-steward Johnny Herbert does not expect a pair of 10-second sanctions at the Mexico Grand Prix will stop Max Verstappen from being aggressive in combat with Formula 1 title rival Lando Norris.

One week on from a controversial off-track overtake from Norris, which saw the McLaren driver handed a five-second penalty in Austin following a robust defence from Verstappen, the Dutchman was himself in trouble with the stewards, being penalised 10 seconds for gaining an advantage by leaving the track, and a second identical penalty for forcing another driver off the track.

With a meeting between the FIA and the drivers scheduled for the Qatar Grand Prix, the penultimate weekend of the season, some rules of engagement may be altered or clarified for the Losail and Abu Dhabi rounds.

But until this point, Herbert – who was one of the FIA stewards at the Mexico GP – believes Verstappen will keep pushing up to and occasionally beyond the letter of the law.

Speaking to Action Network, he said: “Those penalties in Mexico won’t stop Max Verstappen from pushing Lando Norris off the track in the future.

“The whole intention of Verstappen was to try to let Ferrari get the 1-2 finish. I think that’s definitely what Verstappen intended and tried to achieve, I understand why he did it but I don’t agree with it, I don’t think many people do.

Johnny Herbert, former driver and FIA steward, arrives at the track

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

“‘Fair racing’ is something Norris has mentioned before, and that’s the type of fight he wants to have. I don’t see Verstappen’s driving changing because the number one goal is to stop Norris from closing the gap for the drivers’ championship. We potentially still have a lot of interesting racing coming our way.”

McLaren CEO Zak Brown believed the stewards’ action in Mexico was not tough enough, while Red Bull team principal Christian Horner felt it was too harsh.

Offering his thoughts, Herbert added: “It’s the guidelines we followed, the teams agreed with our decisions. The right decision was made, the 20-second penalty for Max Verstappen was not harsh. Was Verstappen’s driving style on the edge or over the top? Yes, it was.

“Verstappen’s driving style was harsh, especially when he’s taking a fellow driver off the track. It’s an absolute no-no from me, current drivers, former drivers and stewards.

“I am such a big fan of Verstappen and it frustrates me massively when he drives the way he did in Mexico. He doesn’t need to do it, he’s so good in the cockpit and at this point in the championship, he just needs to stay out of trouble and drive as well as possible.

“When Verstappen goes into this horrible mindset of trying to gain an advantage by taking a fellow driver off the race track so Ferrari can get the 1-2, that is where Verstappen needs to know he doesn’t have to do that. Just win in the cleanest possible way you can.”

But who shone in the 5-2 victory, and who will be hoping incoming boss Ruben Amorim wasn’t watching?

SunSport’s Katherine Walsh gives her ratings…

Altay Bayindir – 6

Although United dominated, Bayindir looked shaky when Leicester’s chances came.

He flapped with a dodgy punch which led to the away side’s 33rd minute goal. And he looked to repeat it with McAteer’s shot just before half-time.

But one excellent second half save, pushed on to the crossbar, when Steve Cooper’s side were pressing, boosts his mark up a bit.

Victor Lindelof – 6

Hasn’t got the partnership with De Ligt established yet as they both failed to deal with crosses too often from centre-back.

But wasn’t really troubled consistently in the absence of Jamie Vardy in what was his second start of the season.

Matthijs De Ligt – 7

A more physical presence at the back than in previous performances but a more potent attack could have caused much more trouble.

Kasey McAteer got the better of him a few times and he was subbed in the 71st minute for Jonny Evans.

Lisandro Martinez – 6

Looked vulnerable at left-back in moments, with Lindelof filling in at centre-back.

James Justin often had acres of space in the second half before United made it 5-2.

Diogo Dalot

Back in his beloved right-hand side and told to push into midfield but often left his defensive channel wide open.

Passed back all too often and kept Justin onside in the first half.

He assisted Garnacho’s opener though after collecting Casemiro‘s stunning lofted pass.

Played a part in Leicester’s second after the ball bounced off him to drop for Coady in another silly goal to concede for the home side.

Casemiro – 9

The star of the show. A stunning first-half showing saw Casemiro score a brace after bagging a 30-yard screamer for United’s opening goal inside 15 minutes.

He was involved in Garnacho’s goal too. Came up with a number of key defensive headers in the second-half to show class is permanent, although form might be temporary at 32 years old.

Manuel Ugarte – 6

Conceded early fouls but worked hard. Slowly but surely starting to get to grips with his United team-mates after a shaky start.

Bruno Fernandes – 8

Restored United’s 3-1 lead with his first finish of the season. Played with a smile on his face, which we often haven’t seen this season.

Dummied the ball for Casemiro’s worldie and scored his second of the evening in the 57th minute after rolling it under Danny Ward before tapping it into an empty net.

Will be leaned on heavily by Van Nistelrooy to produce the goods following Ten Hag’s departure.

Marcus Rashford – 6

A quiet evening for Rashford, who needs to kick on after Ten Hag’s exit.

The winger lost the ball a lot in the first 30 minutes. Flicks didn’t come off and hauled off again in the 60th minute.

Rashford’s only played a full 90 minutes THREE times this season.

Alejandro Garnacho – 7

A goal and assist for Garnacho, who attended the Ballon d’Or on Monday.

The 20-year-old doubled United’s lead inside 27 minutes after a well worked team move and set up Casemiro’s brilliant opener.

Looked a constant threat throughout and was taken off 20 minutes from time to be saved for Sunday’s clash against Chelsea.

Joshua Zirkzee – 4

Worked hard but never looked confident on the ball and struggled to get involved in the seven-goal thriller. Never seemed to be on his toes either.

But the only consolation is that he was involved in Casemiro’s second (United’s fourth).

Trudged off after 85 minutes looking disgruntled with his tail between his legs.

Subs

Amad (60′ for Rashford) – 7

Instant impact from the bench. The youngster almost scored an overhead kick with his first touch of the evening.

Mazraoui (60′ for Martinez) – 6

Hojlund (71′ for Garnacho) – 6

Jonny Evans (71′ for De Ligt) – 6

Ethan Wheatley (85′ for Zirkzee) – N/A

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the 2024 World Series after recovering from 5-0 down to beat the New York Yankees 7-6 at Yankee Stadium and seal a 4-1 series victory.

A topsy-turvy game was turned upside down at its halfway point as the Dodgers exploited Yankees fielding errors in the top of the fifth inning to level the scores.

“We just took advantage of every mistake they made in that inning and scored five runs,” left fielder Teoscar Hernandez said.

“The bullpen and the pitching staff gave us the chance to stay in the game. It’s a dream come true.”

It is a second title in five years for the National League champions, who had previously won in the Covid-shortened 2020 season.

Facing elimination, the Yankees came out swinging in the Bronx as back-to-back first-inning home runs by Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr put them 3-0 up.

When Alex Verdugo drove in Anthony Volpe in the second, Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty was hooked, and Giancarlo Stanton’s solo shot made it 5-0 in the third.

Yankees starter Gerrit Cole was flawless for four innings, but the Dodgers rallied after Judge fluffed a routine catch in centre field in the fifth, loading the bases with no outs before Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Hernandez all drove in runs to make it 5-5.

Stanton’s sacrifice fly in the sixth edged the Yankees in front again, but the Dodgers hit back in the eighth with two sacrifice flies of their own to lead 7-6.

Having burned through six relievers after Flaherty’s early exit, the Dodgers turned to game three’s starter Walker Buehler to pitch the ninth with a one-run lead, but he retired all three batters he faced to seal the title.

“Who wants a parade?” yelled manager Dave Roberts, referring to the pandemic that had limited their celebrations in 2020.

Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo speaks to Football Focus’ Betty Glover about his tough start to life as a footballer, playing under Cherries boss Andoni Iraola and his targets this season.

Read all the latest Bournemouth news and views here.

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GABRIEL JESUS scored his first goal in 274 days to put Arsenal on course for the quarter finals.

But the Brazilian was upstaged by teen sensation Ethan Nwaneri who is becoming the stand out star of the Carabao Cup for the Gunners.

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After grabbing two against Bolton in round three, the 17-year-old underlined his potential AGAIN here by curling home a first half beauty.

He came agonisingly close to adding a couple more too before leaving the pitch to a standing ovation from the visiting fans just before the end.

While this competition may not be the priority for Mikel Arteta, fans will be hoping they can go all the way so they can see more of Nwaneri.

The only downside to a highly-satisfactory night for the Emirates chief was that his team did not score more.

Preston had won just three of their last 12 matches but they have been hard to beat since Paul Heckingbottom took over early in the season.

They have also done well in this competition – knocking out Championship high-fliers Sunderland and then claiming a Prem scalp by sending Fulham out in an epic penalty shoot-out.  

But they were no match for Arteta’s side which showed eight changes from the team which drew with Liverpool on Sunday.

The Gunners were in control right from the off with Nwaneri – making only his second start – wasting a decent chance early on.

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At the other end a cross by Sam Greenwood was nodded over by Liam Lindsay but that was as good as it got for the home side.

Midway through the first half a free-kick from the left was swung over by Gabriel Martinelli and Jakub Kiwior put it back into the danger zone.

Jesus was lurking at the near post and volleyed it past Freddie Woodman in the blink of an eye.

Last time the Brazilian was on the mark was the win at Nottingham Forest in late January – so it was long overdue.

It was just what the former Manchester City man needed to boost his confidence and nine minutes later he teed up Nwaneri for the second.

To be fair though, it was all about the youngster as he took it in his stride and curled home a beauty from the edge of the box.

Woodman never moved – he’s been around long enough to know you don’t save those.

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Arteta said after Nwaneri’s two goals against Bolton in the last round that ‘the boy is ready’ – and not many will be arguing with him now.  

He is the youngest player ever to score on both of his first two Arsenal starts – and you can only think they are first of many.

If North End hoped the visitors might ease off after the break, they were disappointed.

Arteta threw on Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz at the interval as he clearly felt there were more goals to be had.

And it was the German who put the tie beyond any doubt just before the hour – thumping in a header from Kiwior’s cross.

From then it was a question of how many with Woodman making a triple save to keep them at bay and two goals were also ruled out. 

Meanwhile Nwaneri floated another ambitious effort which hit the top of the bar.  

The youngster had made life hell for North End so maybe it was appropriate that 10 minutes from time he was replaced by another youngster Ayden Heaven.

It is unclear whether Van Nistelrooy, who spent five years at United as a player from 2001 to 2006, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and FA Community Shield, would remain at the club if Amorim is appointed.

He managed PSV Eindhoven for a year from 2022 before joining at Ten Hag’s assistant in the summer.

Van Nistelrooy said United “can be unstoppable” when “players, staff and supporters pull together”.

“Even on an interim basis, it is a great honour to manage the club I love for however long I am asked to do so,” he said in his programme notes before the Leicester game.

“When I returned in the summer as Erik’s assistant, it was because I believe that Manchester United can climb back to the levels that I knew here as a player,” Van Nistelrooy wrote in his programme notes before the Leicester game.

“I still have that belief, but it will take time and a lot of hard work.

“We’ve seen the squad’s potential at times this season, but clearly not often enough.”