McLaren has formally initiated a "right of review" request regarding the five-second penalty imposed on Lando Norris during the recent United States Grand Prix.
The team is challenging the stewards' decision that deemed Norris's overtaking maneuver of Max Verstappen off the track as a violation of the rules.
The controversy arose in the final stages of the Austin race, where Norris overtook Verstappen off-track at COTA’s Turn 12. Stewards ruled Norris had gained an advantage by moving outside the circuit’s white lines and imposed a five-second penalty, which impacted his final race classification.
However, McLaren contends that Verstappen’s defensive maneuver forced Norris into making the move.
Initially, although he vehemently disagreed with the stewards decision in Austin, McLaren team boss Andrea Stella declared the case closed, because new and relevant evidence would have to be provided to stand a chance of a review.
McLaren has apparently reconsidered its position.
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To pursue the review, the Woking-based outfit's representatives will indeed need to present new and significant evidence that was not available to the stewards at the time of the initial ruling.
According to the FIA’s International Sporting Code, Article 14.1.1 permits a decision to be re-examined if "a significant and relevant new element is discovered which was unavailable to the parties seeking the review at the time of the decision concerned."
The review is set to be held at 14:30 Mexico City time on Friday, in between the day’s two practice sessions.
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During the hearing, which will take place via video conference, the original Austin stewards will reconvene to assess the new evidence provided by McLaren. If the stewards deem the evidence sufficient to re-evaluate the decision, the review will proceed to a second phase at an as-yet unspecified time.
After last Sunday’s race, several drivers criticized the stewards’ call to punish Norris while giving a free pass to Verstappen’s defensive maneuver, including the Briton’s teammate Oscar Piastri who wondered why the Red Bull driver was not sanctioned for running wide while he himself had been punished for a nearly identical move at the same corner against Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in Saturday’s Sprint event at COTA.
Verstappen, however, defended the ruling, pointing out that Norris’s overtake was clearly executed outside of the designated track limits.
In his response, Verstappen referenced his own past penalties for similar infractions, stating, "You cannot overtake outside of the white line, that’s a very clear rule."
The outcome of the right of review hearing will have significant implications for the championship battle. If McLaren is successful in overturning the penalty, Norris will be awarded the lost points, potentially narrowing the gap once again between him and Verstappen.
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