Lando Norris and the McLaren team principal, Andrea Stella, have condemned the FIA stewards, claiming they incorrectly interfered in the US Grand Prix, costing Norris third place and vital points in his world championship battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who took the place after Norris was given a penalty.
The two drivers had engaged in a gripping fight for the final ten laps of the race , which was won by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Norris and Verstappen had vied with one another with great skill when Norris went round the outside of turn 12 to pass but in so doing both drivers went off track. Norris was then given a five-second penalty by the stewards for making the overtake off track, and their positions in third and fourth were reversed after they had crossed the line.
Norris believed the stewards had been too hasty in their decision. “He went off the track because he over-defended and he made a mistake but he has gained from that. I had to go off to avoid him,” he said.
“It is impossible to know if I could have stayed on the track. Therefore, you cannot steward that kind of thing. It is just a rushed decision and they don’t hear or understand our points which they should do after the race. They just want to make a decision at the time.”
Stella was also damning in his assessment. “The way the stewards interfered with a beautiful piece of motorsport was inappropriate,” he said. “Both cars went off track so both cars gained an advantage.”
McLaren could have ordered Norris to give up the place to and have a chance to take it back but the team were convinced they did not need to do so. “We double checked that both cars went off track so for us there was no doubt the manoeuvre was correct,” Stella said.
He also went further to reference the start where Norris had lost the lead from pole when Verstappen also dived up the inside, pushed them both wide, allowing Leclerc to squeeze into the lead.
“It’s a shame because it cost us a podium,” said Stella. “It was a race where we stayed patient after we were pushed off in the first lap at the first corner. We accepted it. This kind of decision cannot be appealed and we move on to the next race.”
