The points from the last six races of the season are weighty. Points that decide world championships. And the decisions of the stewards are equally weighty, capable of decisively influencing the outcome of the races. In Austin, the race had some dramatic twists and turns and many duels on the track, many of which attracted the attention of the FIA. Among these, the clash for third place between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, two contenders in the race for the world title, stands out. But the fate of the battle in Austin was decided by a five-second penalty given to Norris, which raised quite a few controversies, starting with the Team Principal of McLaren, Andrea Stella.
The penalty that changed the result
The duel between Norris and Verstappen reached its peak in the final stages of the United States GP, when the Englishman from McLaren tried to overtake the Dutchman on the outside of turn 12. Both drivers ended up off the track, but the stewards deemed Norris's move to be illegal, giving him a five-second penalty. This allowed Verstappen to maintain third place, while Norris slipped to fourth, losing precious championship points.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella did not hide his disappointment with the stewards' decision, openly expressing his frustration with what he believes to be an unfair and counterproductive choice for the sport. “The way the stewards interfered in this beautiful moment of motorsport was inappropriate, because both cars went off the track,” Stella declared with obvious anger. “It’s a shame, because it costs us a podium and a race in which we remained patient.”
No intention of appealing
Despite the penalty, Andrea Stella has made it clear that McLaren will not appeal, accepting the verdict of the FIA and preferring to look forward to Austin. “We cannot appeal this type of decision taken during the race,” he added. “For us the chapter is closed, and we are concentrating on the next race. Having said that, our position is very clear: both cars went off the track, so both cars benefited from the maneuver. It was a spectacular piece of motorsport that should not be ruined by outside interference.”
Stella also dismissed the idea that Norris should have given the position back immediately after the overtake: “We double-checked and we are confident that both cars were off the track. For us there was no doubt that the move was correct.”
Norris is not having it
Lando Norris also expressed his disappointment with the stewards' decision, believing the penalty was unfair. “He also went off the track. If we both push to the limit and end up off, I don't understand why I'm the only one who got the penalty,” the Briton commented. “I did my best. He also went wide, by a few metres, so clearly he also came in too hard, gaining an advantage. But I don't make the rules.”
Despite the disappointment, both Norris and Stella have closed the topic and are already focused on the next challenges of the championship, hoping to avoid similar situations in the future.
