Formula 1's governing body, the FIA turned down McLaren's request to revisit the five-second penalty imposed on Lando Norris during the United States Grand Prix. Norris, who initially had clinched the third place, was demoted to fourth after the stewards ruled that he overtook Max Verstappen off-track in a crucial move. McLaren argued that the penalty was based on an incorrect assessment, but the FIA's recent rejection has confirmed the original ruling.
The contentious penalty emerged when Norris and Verstappen clashed at Turn 12 of the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Stewards ruled that Norris had not met the overtaking criteria as per F1’s guidelines, which specify that for an outside pass to be permitted, the overtaking car’s front axle must be ahead of the defending car’s front axle at the corner's apex.
However, McLaren contested that Norris, who had already overtaken Verstappen on the straight leading into the corner, was technically the defending driver when the two went wheel-to-wheel, suggesting that Verstappen had pushed Norris off the track.
What did FIA say about the issue?
McLaren’s argument, however, was dismissed, with the FIA stewards concluding that their claim lacked “relevant new elements” required to reconsider the penalty. The stewards called McLaren's assertion that the decision itself represented a “new element” unsustainable and reinforced their original call that Norris had breached overtaking guidelines.
In a statement following the rejection, McLaren voiced their disappointment, noting, "We disagree with the interpretation that an FIA document, which makes a competitor aware of an objective, measurable, and provable error in the decision made by the stewards, cannot be an admissible 'element' which meets all four criteria.” This stance underscores McLaren’s belief that their protest addressed a genuine misjudgment, though it ultimately failed to convince the FIA.
The incident has reignited discussions around Verstappen’s defensive tactics, which many in the paddock see as a loophole in F1's regulations. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton commented, “You shouldn’t be able to come off the brakes, run more speed in, and go off the track and still hold your place,” echoing concerns that Verstappen’s approach may push the boundaries of racing ethics while remaining within the rules.