Andrea Stella responds to whether McLaren will appeal against Lando Norris’ penalty in the United States Grand Prix

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged that the stewards’ decision regarding Lando Norris at the 2024 US Grand Prix cannot be appealed. Speaking to media, including Sportskeeda, after the race, Stella explained that McLaren lacked new evidence to justify a ‘Right of Review’ over the incident.

In the final laps of the race, Norris was locked in a thrilling battle with Max Verstappen, attempting to overtake the Dutchman. Verstappen’s defensive driving forced Norris wide, prompting the Briton to make a pass on the outside. This maneuver resulted in a five-second penalty for Norris, dropping him from third to fourth place.

While McLaren argued the penalty was unjust and Norris expressed frustration with the decision, Stella conceded that pursuing an appeal was unlikely to succeed. He believed the disagreement stemmed from differing interpretations of the incident between McLaren and the stewards. Stella ultimately regarded the matter as settled, but emphasized that the FIA should review the situation to enhance future stewarding decisions.

Asked by Sportskeeda if McLaren planned to appeal the decision, Stella said:

“The decision cannot be appealed, so for us the matter is closed. Myself, the drivers, the team, now we close this chapter. We hope that the FIA and the stewards will review the case so that in the future we will have a better policy. a better stewardship of the racing. We now focus on to the next race.”

Asked if they could apply for a Right of Review with new evidence, the McLaren team principal replied:

“I don't think new and relevant evidence exists, because the only evidence that we have used so far to assess our interpretation, which is in disagreement with the stewards, is what is already available. So if you open up the writer review, I don't think it will ever be successful because you don't need new evidence, it’s just a matter of interpretation.”

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Andrea Stella reckons McLaren is in complete disagreement with the stewards about their decision over Max Verstappen and Lando Norris

Andrea Stella strongly disagreed with the stewards’ decision at the US Grand Prix, arguing that both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen went off track during their battle, and the penalty was undeserved. He criticized Verstappen’s defensive tactics, which he claimed have forced competitors off track in the past, and felt the stewards acted too quickly, especially given the championship implications.

Stella believed the decision should have been made post-race with a more detailed investigation. McLaren’s view was that both drivers gained an advantage by going off track, making a neutral decision more appropriate. He also accused Verstappen of giving Norris no space to complete the maneuver, arguing the incident needed more time for proper assessment rather than a rushed 60-second call.

Asked about the incident and his interpretation of it, Stella said:

“Yeah, I think the ahead of the apex in relation to the interpretation of the overtaking manoeuvre is not the relevant bit. I think the defending car goes straight to the apex. We checked the video multiple times. Its just going straight, it's just going off track, as much as Lando is doing. Just giving no chance for Lando to complete the manoeuvre. If I were a journalist, I would have done a bit of statistics, how many times Max has used this way for defending. Both cars go off track, so I think both cars are gaining an advantage if there is an advantage gained. So for us, this manoeuvre was at least neutral. But when I saw that there was another investigation, I was pretty sure that was because Max pushed Lando off the track. In fact, we told immediately, ‘Oscar you close in on Max because there might be a position at stake’.”

He further expressed his disappointment with the FIA stewards, saying:

“So the interpretation of the situation between McLaren and the stewards is polar opposite. I am surprised that the stewards didn’t even feel the need to discuss with the drivers after the race. It is an uncertain situation, get the opinion of the drivers, get the time to assess the situation with the level of details that is required when the situation is not so clear. So where is the urgency to interfere with the result of a race with a championship course, just because you have to make the decision in 60 seconds. It's a question mark that I think the stewards should take constructively, positively. Is it really needed to make a decision so quickly and, in our opinion, so wrongly.”

Multiple angles showed both drivers going off track, but Norris overtaking Verstappen in this manner led to the penalty. Norris not giving the position back made the stewards’ decision easier. McLaren currently leads Red Bull by 40 points in the Constructors’ Championship, but Verstappen finishing ahead of Norris extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 57 points. Norris could have further chipped away at Verstappen’s advantage if he had secured third place. With five races and two sprint races remaining, both McLaren and Norris must seize every opportunity and deliver faultless performances.