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Understanding Formula 1's Right to Review: How McLaren challenges Lando Norris's penalty at the US Grand Prix

Check out how McLaren utilizes Formula 1's 'Right to Review' to contest Lando Norris's penalty at the US Grand Prix. Get insights into the FIA’s review process and its impact on race outcomes.

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Shubham Shekhar
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Lando Norris and Max Verstappen

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (Source: X)

In the highly competitive world of Formula 1, where every point influences championship standing, teams constantly look for ways to protect their driver standings. McLaren is now pursuing a legal manoeuvre known as the Right to Review to potentially overturn a penalty against Lando Norris that cost him third place at the recent United States Grand Prix.

This unique appeal system in F1, authorized by the FIA International Sporting Code, could redefine Norris’s final race position—and with it, the points earned by Max Verstappen and others. But what is this right to review and how it works? Here you go!

What is a Right to Review?

Formula 1’s Right to Review is a specific mechanism teams can invoke to re-examine decisions if they believe they’ve found new evidence that wasn’t available at the time the initial ruling was made. Under Article 14.1.1 of the FIA Code, if “significant and relevant” new material is discovered that wasn’t accessible to the involved parties at the decision time, teams have the right to petition for a re-evaluation.

The stewards who made the ruling—or alternates appointed by the FIA—will then determine if this new evidence merits another look at the case. In McLaren’s situation, their goal is to use this provision to contest a ruling against Norris, hoping that fresh evidence will prompt a reconsideration of the penalty decision.

Why McLaren Thinks the Review Could Succeed

The review hinges on McLaren's submission of what they deem “new and relevant” evidence. Although specific details have yet to be revealed, it’s suspected that McLaren’s case could centre on fresh footage captured from Verstappen’s rear-facing camera.

During the race broadcast, the camera on Verstappen’s car positioned backwards at a critical juncture, might not have fully illustrated Norris’s actions in the race context. These images were only accessible for review after the race, as with a similar appeal Mercedes launched in 2021.

Mercedes's Right to Review, related to an incident between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton during the Brazilian Grand Prix, also involved previously unavailable footage. Mercedes claimed that the new angle showed Verstappen not following racing protocol, though ultimately, the stewards determined the new footage didn’t justify a decision reversal. Although Mercedes’s request was denied, it set a precedent that McLaren may be aiming to build upon.

Next Steps and Potential Outcomes

The initial review process will involve McLaren presenting its evidence to the stewards, who will first assess if it meets the threshold of “new and relevant” information. Only if this criterion is satisfied will the stewards move to a full hearing, set to occur via video call, where they will scrutinize McLaren’s claims and the footage.

For McLaren, the stakes are high. Overturning Norris’s penalty could alter his final placement in the US Grand Prix, impacting his and Verstappen’s points in the championship tally. While this step is far from guaranteed to succeed, McLaren’s appeal underscores how fiercely F1 teams defend their driver standings in the quest for championship dominance.

Formula 1 Lando Norris McLaren US Grand Prix Mexican Grand Prix Mexico City Grand Prix
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