Lando Norris Conflicted Over Penalty After Battle with Max Verstappen at US Grand Prix
Lando Norris has expressed uncertainty regarding how to approach Max Verstappen’s driving tactics following his recent penalty during the United States Grand Prix. The McLaren driver found himself in a tense battle with Verstappen for third place in the final stages of the race. Norris attempted an outside overtaking maneuver at Turn 12 but was pushed off track after Verstappen braked late.
Despite maintaining his speed and rejoining the track ahead of Verstappen, Norris was handed a five-second penalty for “leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage,” which ultimately reversed their positions at the finish line. This penalty widened Norris’s gap to Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship to 57 points, with only five races left in the season. Norris initially started from pole but lost the lead at the first corner due to Verstappen’s aggressive move.
During a post-race interview, Norris stated, “He’s overtaken by going off track, so I don’t know what I’m meant to do. He defends by going off track, he overtakes by going off track.” Addressing the contentious lap 52 incident, he remarked, “If he goes off the track, clearly he’s gone in way too hard and also gained an advantage.”
Meanwhile, Verstappen, who completed the race on the podium alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, expertly defended against Norris throughout the race. Norris acknowledged Verstappen’s skill in defense but maintained that rules should be enforced fairly.
McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, criticized the stewards for their decision to impose the penalty, claiming that it was inappropriate to penalize Norris when both he and Verstappen had gone off track. Stella argued that the stewards missed the context of the incident, stating, “Both cars gained an advantage, so I think the decision was wrong.”
The stewards clarified their ruling by noting that Verstappen had established a lead at the apex of Turn 12. However, Stella contended that Verstappen’s actions indicated he had no intention of making the corner, suggesting that this should have influenced the stewards’ interpretation.
Stella revealed that McLaren expected Verstappen to be penalized instead of Norris, even suggesting that Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri should prepare to capitalize on a potential penalty for the Red Bull driver. “When I saw that there was an investigation, I was pretty sure that was because Max pushed Lando off the track,” he stated.
As controversy swirls around the decision-making process of the stewards, Stella also questioned the hastiness of their ruling, which came just minutes after the incident and shortly before the race concluded. He emphasized the need for a more measured approach, especially in situations that aren’t straightforward.
Formula 1 continues its thrilling Americas triple-header with the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix, promising another exciting weekend of motorsport action.
