Lando Norris and McLaren team principal Andrea Stella have criticized the FIA stewards, alleging they wrongly intervened in the US Grand Prix, resulting in Norris losing third place and crucial points in his championship fight against Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Verstappen took the position after Norris received a penalty. The two drivers were locked in a thrilling battle for the final ten laps of the race, which was won by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Norris and Verstappen displayed exceptional skill as they competed fiercely, with Norris eventually passing Verstappen on the outside of turn 12. However, both drivers went off track during the maneuver. The stewards subsequently imposed a five-second penalty on Norris for the off-track overtake, reversing their positions from third and fourth after they had crossed the finish line.
Norris felt the stewards were too quick to make their decision. "He went off the track because he over-defended and made a mistake, but he benefited from it. I had to go off to avoid him," Norris explained. "It's impossible to know if I could have stayed on the track. Therefore, you cannot judge that kind of situation. It's just a rushed decision, and they don't consider our points, which they should do after the race. They just want to make a decision at the time."
Stella was equally critical. "The way the stewards interfered with a beautiful piece of motorsport was inappropriate," he stated. "Both cars went off track, so both cars gained an advantage." McLaren could have instructed Norris to relinquish the position and attempt to reclaim it, but the team believed it was unnecessary. "We double-checked that both cars went off track, so for us, there was no doubt the maneuver was correct," Stella explained.
He also referenced the start of the race, where Norris lost the lead from pole position when Verstappen cut inside, pushing both drivers wide and allowing Leclerc to take the lead. "It's a shame because it cost us a podium," Stella lamented. "It was a race where we stayed patient after being pushed off in the first lap at the first corner. We accepted it. This kind of decision cannot be appealed, and we move on to the next race."
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