McLaren issues ‘inappropriate’ penalty as Norris hopes for F1 title

DALLAS – McLaren team chief Andrea Stella has labeled the controversial punishment Lando Norris received at the United States Grand Prix as “inappropriate” and which could destroy his world title dream.

Race stewards punished Norris and demoted him to fourth behind three-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull after the pair collided in the closing laps and ran off the track.

A five-second penalty for Norris, who finished third on track at the flag, pushed him back to fourth behind the series leader and dealt a blow in his attempt to catch and pass the Dutch driver in this year’s title race.

Norris is said to have gained an advantage by running off the track when he was out of Verstappen on lap 53 of the 56-lap race.

The incident cost Norris valuable points and helped Verstappen to a 57-point lead in the title race with 354 to Norris’s 297 with five races remaining.

“My view is that the way the stewards interfered with a beautiful piece of motorsport was inappropriate as both cars went off track and both cars gained an advantage,” said McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.

“It’s a shame because it cost us a podium, it cost us a race where we remained patient after we were pushed off the side on the first lap, in the first corner. We accepted it.

“After we have said our position very clearly, these kinds of positions from the stewards, these kinds of decisions cannot be appealed. The chapter is now closed for us and we move on to the next race.

“But both cars went off the track, so there was no doubt in our minds that the maneuver was correct.”

Norris was philosophical about his fate after a spirited drive, having recovered from a poor first lap when he squandered his fourth pole in five races and fell to fourth.

“Not my best race,” he said. “With the loss in the first corner and just the racing at the end it clearly wasn’t enough – so that’s life. I didn’t do well enough, but I tried well, so I’m doing my best. best.

“Sometimes my best isn’t good enough. It just wasn’t our day today.”

He added that he considered talking to the stewards about their decision, but felt that “there are plenty of scenarios where people wouldn’t be punished in cases like what happened.”

He said it was difficult to know whether he should have immediately given his seat back during the race.

“It’s difficult to know, but maybe that was the only chance I got. Max defended well and it was not easy to overtake.”

Verstappen said he got through a difficult race without attacking the pace in his car.

“It was tough, a tough battle and I did everything I could to keep him behind me. But it was also fun,” he said.