Lando Norris hits out at ‘rushed decision’ on five-second penalty

Lando Norris and McLaren's team principal, Andrea Stella, have criticized the FIA stewards for their actions during the US Grand Prix. They argue that the stewards made a mistake that led to Norris losing his third-place position and essential points in his championship race against Max Verstappen from Red Bull, who ended up taking that spot after Norris received a penalty.

The two drivers were locked in an intense battle during the last ten laps of the race, ultimately won by Charles Leclerc from Ferrari. Norris and Verstappen showed off their impressive skills as they competed fiercely. However, when Norris attempted to pass Verstappen by going around the outside of turn 12, both of them ended up off the track. As a result, the stewards handed Norris a five-second penalty for executing the overtake outside of the designated racing area, leading to a reversal of their finishing positions, with Verstappen taking third and Norris fourth after they crossed the finish line.

Norris thought the stewards acted too quickly with their judgment. “He left the track because he was overly defensive and messed up, but he benefited from it. I had to go off the track to steer clear of him,” he explained.

"I can’t say for sure if I would have remained on course. So, it's not something that can be managed effectively. The choice seems to be made in haste, and they don’t listen to or grasp our arguments, which they should consider after the event. They seem more focused on making a quick decision in the moment."

Stella was quite harsh in his evaluation. He stated, “The stewards' intervention disrupted what was a remarkable display of motorsport. Since both cars went off the track, both ended up benefiting from it.”

McLaren might have asked Norris to give up his position so he could potentially regain it later, but the team felt confident that it wasn't necessary. "We confirmed that both cars went off the track, so we were certain that the maneuver was legitimate," Stella explained.

He also mentioned the moment at the beginning when Norris lost his pole position lead after Verstappen made a move on the inside. This maneuver pushed both of them off track, which allowed Leclerc to slip into the lead.

“It’s unfortunate because it cost us a chance at the podium,” Stella commented. “We remained calm after being pushed off during the first lap at the first corner. We acknowledged that it happened. This type of decision can’t be contested, so now we’ll focus on the next race.”