'Didn't expect to be on the podium' – Verstappen pleased with P3 in Mexico as he offers verdict on Hamilton clash

Max Verstappen admits that he "didn't expect to be on the podium" in the Mexico City Grand Prix and claimed that "the rules allow you to do the things that we do" after a controversial battle with Lewis Hamilton during Sunday's race.

The four-time World Champion had an eventful 71-lap race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, which concluded with the Red Bull driver finishing third and keeping himself in title contention with four races remaining.

Verstappen went four-wide with the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, as well as polesitter Lando Norris, on the long run to Turn 1 at the start before taking to the grass at high-speed.

Having rejoined in fourth and the only leading driver to start on the medium tyre, Verstappen struggled for pace and found himself back in eighth after a pit stop to switch onto the soft Pirelli rubber.

With other drivers making the decision to pit for a second time, Verstappen found himself up to third and closing on Leclerc in the final stages, only for a late Virtual Safety Car thwarting any chance of overtaking down the long straight with DRS.

"We had a good start, good run to Turn 1, but then there were too many cars so you just have to try and avoid everything and I had to go on the kerb. You bottom [out] so that was tough," said Verstappen, who now finds himself just 36 points behind race winner and new championship leader, Lando Norris.

"I avoided going into the wall through the grass, then found my position again and then tried to just do the race. The beginning was very hectic but I think also very quickly we realised the medium was not a great tyre.

"[It] looked like everyone around me on the softs were quite a bit more comfortable. We just tried to extend the medium as long as we could and then I think when we went on the soft and everyone else was on the medium, I think it showed that the soft was the better tyre for today.

"We had a good final stint, I was enjoying that, I think the pace was a little bit more competitive compared to all the cars around me – except McLaren I would say. I personally didn't expect to be on the podium today."

One of the most contentious moments of the race came in the early laps, with Verstappen diving up the inside of Hamilton at Turn 1 for third, the pair banging wheels before Verstappen cut the track through Turn 2/3.

Hamilton tried to overtake around the outside into Turn 4 but cut the corner and rejoined ahead, the stewards deeming that the Ferrari driver gained a lasting advantage as Verstappen became embroiled in a battle with George Russell's Mercedes and Ollie Bearman's Haas.

"The rules allow you to do the things that we do in the racing nowadays," said Verstappen on the incident.

"Now, people can agree with that or not, that's the rule. I think the whole weekend has just been quite difficult but I think all-in-all, to be on the podium has been positive."