The Formula 1 grid is in Mexico, the site of this weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix.
But at least one team is not fully ready to turn the page on last weekend’s United States Grand Prix.
In a statement, McLaren confirmed that they have requested a “right of review,” seeking an appeal of the penalty handed down to Lando Norris as a result of a late-lap incident with Max Verstappen. As the two drivers battled into Turn 1 in the closing laps of the United States Grand Prix both went off the track, with Norris on the outside of Verstappen. Norris rejoined the track in front of Verstappen, but race officials immediately noted the incident for further investigation.
Rather than give the place back, McLaren believed that Norris was ahead of Verstappen at the apex of Turn 1, meaning he was within his right to maintain the position. Race stewards disagreed, and Norris was ultimately hit with a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. In their decision, race stewards noted that this was a smaller penalty than the typical ten-second penalty:
“A 5 second penalty is imposed instead of the 10 second penalty recommended in the guidelines because having committed to the overtaking move on the outside the driver of Car 4 had little alternative other than to leave the track because of the proximity of Car 1 which had also left the track.”
As a result of the penalty Norris, who finished third in front of Verstappen, was dropped to third. Verstappen ended up finishing fourth once the penalty was applied.
Speaking with the media, including SB Nation, after the United States Grand Prix McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella indicated that a right of review would not be coming.
“The decision cannot be appealed. So for us, the matter is closed. Myself, the drivers, the team,” said Stella in McLaren’s hospitality space Sunday night. “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 and a better stewardship of the racing. We now focus onto the next race.”
The main reason, according to Stella? It was his belief on Sunday night that no new evidence existed.
“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,” said Stella. “So if you open up the right of review, I don’t think it will ever be successful because you don’t need new evidence. It’s just a matter of interpretation.”
In McLaren’s statement on Thursday, however, the team indicated that indeed there is new evidence available.
“McLaren confirms it has submitted a petition for a review relating to the decision to penalize Lando with a 5 second penalty at the 2024 United States Grand Prix, for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage, which we believe to be unfair,” began a statement from the team.
“We believe there is a significant and new element that was unavailable to us at the time of the decision was made. We have submitted the relevant paperwork with the FIA and will issue no further comment while this process is ongoing.
“We have the utmost respect for the FIA and the stewards for the difficult job that they do and appreciate the open and collaborative relationship we enjoy with them.”
A hearing will be conducted Friday via videoconference, featuring representatives from Red Bull and McLaren. Article 14 of the FIA’s International Sporting Code governs “right of review” requests, and McLaren must show according to Article 14.1.1 “a significant and relevant new element,” which was “unavailable to the parties seeking the review at the time of the decision concerned.”
For the “right of review” to be granted, pursuant to Article 14.3, “[t]he stewards shall have the sole discretion to determine if a significant and relevant new element exists. The decision of the stewards as to whether or not such an element exists is not subject to appeal before the national court of appeal or the International Court of Appeal.”
For now, Norris trails Verstappen by 57 points in the F1 Drivers’ Championship.
