Andrea Stella furious about ‘inappropriate’ decision by the stewards after Lando Norris’ penalty in the American Grand Prix

Thanks to the newer tires, Norris was able to increase the pressure on Verstappen in the closing stages, occasionally coming close, but struggling to get alongside. He eventually managed to get a good exit out of Turn 11 into the straight, which allowed him to attempt a round the outside of Turn 12.

Verstappen covered the inside line, driving Norris wide and ultimately leaving the track. The Briton kept his foot in and overtook him off the track, taking the lead again in third place.

READ MORE: The life of McLaren driver Lando Norris outside F1, from parents to party

The stewards ultimately gave Norris a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lead, but Stella believes the penalty was not justified, speaking to Sky Sports.

Andrea Stella explains why F1 stewards should not have intervened in the battle of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen

Stella felt that the stewards wrongly intervened in the battle between Norris and Verstappen, because they felt that they should have allowed the two to race because the latter also went off the road.

“My opinion is that the way the stewards interfered with a beautiful piece of motorsport was inappropriate, because both cars went off the track and both cars gained an advantage,” said Stella.

“It’s a shame because it cost us a podium and a race where we remained passionate after being pushed off the side in the first corner – we accepted it. That said, these types of decisions by the stewards cannot be appealed, so the chapter is now closed for us.”

Lando Norris escaped further punishment for Max Verstappen’s move

In their official ruling document, the stewards claimed that Verstappen was in front at the apex of Turn 12, meaning Norris had lost “the right” to the corner.

Because Norris overtook him off the track and returned before Verstappen, it is assumed that he left the track and gained an advantage.

READ MORE: Karun Chandhok left ‘confused’ by McLaren’s plan for Lando Norris in the US Grand Prix

The stewards’ guidelines usually indicate that a 10-second penalty applies for the infringement, but in this case they decided to reduce it to five seconds as they felt Norris had little choice but to stand on the outside line keep.

It means that he only drops to fourth place behind Verstappen in the last race positions, while a 10-second penalty would have put him behind Oscar Piastri.

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