McLaren confirmed to fight controversial FIA penalty decision at US Grand Prix

He McLaren The Formula 1 team has launched an unexpected challenge to overturn Lando Norris’ 5-second penalty, which cost him third place. Max Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix in Austin. The team has requested a right of review, with the aim of the FIA ​​stewards revoking the penalty sentence.

The race weekend at Circuit of the Americas saw several drivers penalized for exceeding track limits, but the FIA ​​reportedly applied these penalties inconsistently. This has led to prominent figures such as McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Mercedes team principal. Toto Wolff to denounce inconsistencies in the application of sanctions.

The incident involving Norris unfolded on lap 52 at Turn 12, where he attempted to pass Max Verstappen on the outside line while navigating the left-hander. Verstappen is said to have not only forced Norris to go beyond the track limits, but also crossed the white lines himself. Norris finally took the Dutchman off the track and rejoined without returning the position. Although he crossed the finish line in third place, ahead of the Red Bull driver in fourth place, the stewards gave him a 5-second penalty, dropping him to fourth place.

The penalty dealt a blow to the British driver’s championship bid against Verstappen, who eventually extended his lead by 5 points after the weekend. While Verstappen’s sprint win also contributed to his 57-point lead, the gap would have been smaller if not for Norris’ penalty.

In a statement after the US GP, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said there was probably no evidence the team could use to challenge the FIA ​​verdict. He saying:

“I don’t think there is new and relevant evidence.

“Because the only evidence we have used so far to evaluate our interpretation, which is not in agreement with the administrators, is already available.

“So if the right of review is opened up, I don’t think it will ever be successful because no new evidence is needed, it’s just a matter of interpretation.”

However, it is most likely that Papaya’s team has obtained new evidence that could overturn the sentence. So, with just hours left before its 96-hour post-race window closed, McLaren filed a petition to review Norris’s penalty Thursday night at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The right of review hearing is set for Friday at 2:30 pm local time in Mexico City, just before this weekend’s race. McLaren will have to demonstrate to the FIA ​​that new, significant and relevant evidence has emerged that was not available when the original decision was made. If McLaren is successful, a second session of the hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Representatives of Verstappen’s Red Bull team will also attend the initial hearing.

Furthermore, according to Sky Sports F1Formula 1 drivers are scheduled to discuss the incident at a meeting on Friday night in Mexico. Norris has already won the support of Lewis Hamilton, who echoed his call on Thursday for adjustments to the sport’s overtaking guidelines.