On lap 52 of the Austin race part of the F1 World Championship could have been decided. A decision by the stewards of the United States GP took the podium away from Lando Norris and gave it to Max Verstappen for a controversial maneuver in which the two drivers went off the track. Who was right? For the commissioners, the Dutch.
From McLaren they complained bitterly about the decision, which meant that Norris moved 3 more points away from Verstappen, instead of subtracting 3 from him (from 49 to now 57).
“Both gained an advantage, it’s a shame because it costs us a podium, it costs us a race in which we continue to be patient.”
The controversial play occurred just four laps from the end of the race. Norris, who was chasing Verstappen, became parallel with the Dutchman, the Red Bull opened towards the outside of the curve under braking, forcing the McLaren to run off the track to avoid the collision, and upon returning Norris was able to get ahead on the asphalt. The McLaren wall told its driver not to return the position. But the stewards interpreted that he had taken advantage by running outside the limits of the track and imposed a 5-second penalty: he lost the podium, to the benefit of Verstappen.
McLaren’s reaction was immediate: its director, Andrea Stella, said that the stewards of the United States GP “inappropriately interfered” in the battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, the Italian engineer expressed his confidence in the correct action of his driver: “My opinion is that the way in which the stewards interfered in this beautiful battle of motorsport was inappropriate, because the two cars went out of line. clue”.
According to McLaren, the sanction is unfair because the two drivers benefited from racing off the track: “They both gained an advantage, it’s a shame because it costs us a podium, it costs us a race in which we continue to be patient. After he squeezed us on the first lap and the first corner, we accepted it.”
Verstappen’s replica
“McLaren complains a lot lately; It is very clear: you cannot overtake outside the white line.”
Max Verstappen responded vehemently to McLaren’s complaints. “They complain a lot lately, but it’s very clear in the rules. Outside the white line, you cannot overtake. “They have also punished me for that in the past,” commented the Dutch driver, who sees his lead strengthened with 3 points more than Norris, whom he now leads by 57, after the Englishman had cut him 32 points in the previous six. Grand Prix (from Hungary).
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