Controversial Call: Inside the Stewards’ Decision to Penalize Lando Norris at the US Grand Prix

Clarified: The Reason Behind Lando Norris's Penalty at the US Grand Prix by F1 Stewards

The rationale provided by the stewards for issuing a penalty to Lando Norris following his overtaking maneuver on F1 championship contender Max Verstappen during the US GP.

The F1 officials have provided a rationale for imposing a penalty on Lando Norris during his intense clash with Max Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix.

In Sunday's race at COTA, championship contenders Norris and Verstappen were embroiled in a dramatic and contentious battle for the last podium position.

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Norris secured a third-place finish on the track by overtaking Verstappen on the outside at Turn 12 during the final four laps. However, he was later penalized with a five-second addition to his time for making the pass while off the track. This penalty resulted in Norris being demoted to fourth place, allowing his chief competitor to move up to the podium position.

The choices made by the stewards became a controversial issue that took center stage following the race, eclipsing an impressive first and second place finish by Ferrari.

"The stewards' decision stated that Car 4, while attempting to pass Car 1 from the outside, did not manage to pull side by side with Car 1 by the time they reached the peak of the turn. As a result, according to the Driving Standards Guidelines, Car 4 forfeited its claim to the corner."

"Given that Car 4 exited the track and re-entered ahead of Car 1, it has been determined that this constitutes leaving the track and securing a lasting benefit."

A 5-second penalty has been applied, as opposed to the advised 10-second penalty, due to the driver of Car 4 being left with no choice but to exit the track during an attempt to overtake from the outside, given the close presence of Car 1, which had also moved off the track.

"Considering the information provided, we have decided that Car 4 will not receive a penalty for exceeding track boundaries."

McLaren was infuriated by the decision, as team principal Andrea Stella criticized the F1 stewards for what he considered "inappropriate" meddling in what he called a "beautiful piece of motorsport".

In a conversation with Sky Sports F1, Lando Norris stated that it was "impossible to predict" whether the team's suggestion for him to relinquish his position to Verstappen would have been successful.

"He mentioned that the stewards clearly struggled to reach a decision over several laps, indicating it wasn't straightforward, otherwise, it would have been made more promptly."

"I made an effort. Similarly, he deviated from the path, straying several meters away, which clearly indicates he pushed too far and even gained an advantage from his actions. However, I'm not the one who sets the rules.

"I must revisit the beginning once more. Clearly, I kept it close, and Max opted for a narrow opening. Viewing from within the vehicle makes certain aspects more challenging to judge, while others become somewhat clearer."

He clearly invested a significant amount, which is within his rights, but he veered off course, so I'll have to review the matter.

"He maneuvers off-course to defend, and he surpasses by straying from the track. However, I won't raise any complaints. Max performed impressively and his defense was solid; we enjoyed a competitive race. Nonetheless, the regulations are to be followed."

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