The United States Grand Prix saw a series of penalties that sparked controversy, especially regarding the consistency of the stewards' decisions. George Russell was among the first to receive a penalty, a decision that set an important precedent, but which was not applied with the same severity in other similar situations. The most controversial case was the duel between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen for third place: Norris was penalised with five seconds for overtaking outside the limits of the track, while Verstappen, despite also going outside the limits, received no penalty. This led Mercedes, led by Toto Wolff, to harshly criticise the FIA in Austin, raising suspicions of favoritism.
Russell's penalty and the dangerous precedent
The Texan race began with a decision that immediately caused controversy. George Russell, battling with Valtteri Bottas at the back, received a five-second penalty for pushing his rival off the track during an overtaking move at the same corner that would have seen the Verstappen-Norris duel. This episode set a precedent, as the FIA has established that an overtaking move in which one driver forces the other off the track must be punished.. However, this decision was not applied consistently throughout the rest of the race, sparking anger within the Mercedes team.

Verstappen and Norris: the decisive controversy
The most sensitive issue came in the final laps, when Lando Norris attempted an outside pass on Max Verstappen for third place. Both drivers went outside track limits, but the FIA penalised only the McLaren driver, deeming his overtaking move illegal. Norris expressed his disappointment immediately after the race, saying: “I tried. He also went off the track. If he goes off the track, then it is clear that he went too fast and also gained an advantage by doing what he did. But I don’t make the rules.”
Wolff vs FIA: Favouritism Accusations
The stewards’ decision has fuelled frustration at Mercedes, with Toto Wolff slamming the FIA, suggesting Verstappen was given preferential treatment in Austin. “Was Max penalised? No, he didn’t get a penalty. And then Lando got a penalty for being forced out and overtaking on the outside. I guess it’s a bit of a biased decision, but, you know, it doesn’t surprise me,” Wolff said. The Austrian went on to highlight the inconsistency in the stewards’ decisions: “It’s strange that Verstappen does things that others have been penalized for and he hasn’t. We know why, but you can’t say it on TV.”
Will the controversy continue?
Wolff’s comments have added fuel to a debate that doesn’t seem likely to die down any time soon. The FIA is now under scrutiny for its handling of penalties and alleged lack of consistency in decisions. It remains to be seen whether these accusations will have repercussions on upcoming races, especially at a crucial stage of the championship.
Source statements: FormulaPassion