Lando Norris was left furious with title rival Max Verstappen after two close calls in the opening stages of the Mexican Grand Prix.

Verstappen managed to jump polesitter Carlos Sainz at the start of the race, but after the Spaniard fought back and retook the lead following an early safety car, the Red Bull man was running in front of Norris on track.

The pair then nearly came together when Norris lunged around the outside of the Dutchman. Verstappen saw his rival coming and ran him off the road.

Norris decided that he was pushed off and kept the place, and so Verstappen came back at him, lunging back at his rival and shoving him off the track.

"I was ahead the whole way through the corner," Norris fumed on the radio. "This guy is dangerous. It's the same as last time. I'll be in the wall in a minute."

Verstappen kept the place on the racetrack but suffered devastating consequences. After a short review in the stewards' room, the three-time world champion was hit with two 10-second time penalties.

There was even more drama further back in the pack as Liam Lawson and Sergio Perez made contact while battling for the final points-paying position, causing significant damage to the latter's sidepod.

Perez - who is in danger of losing his seat next season to the New Zealander - was already carrying a five-second time penalty after making a false start, capping off a miserable weekend at his home race.

The Mexican was eliminated in Q1 on Saturday along with McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, putting him under significant pressure as he battles to save his F1 career.