Brown makes FIA stewards demand after Norris-Verstappen clash

Zak Brown has demanded an improvement into how Formula 1 stewards "police" the sporting regulations after the Lando Norris-Max Verstappen clash. 

Having been adjudged to have moved under braking for Turn 3 in Austria, Verstappen was handed a 10-second time penalty for making contact with Norris on Lap 64, putting the McLaren driver out of the race.

Verstappen was roundly criticised for the move, including by RacingNews365 readers, having also picked up two penalty points on his FIA super licence as he finished fifth.

However, ahead of the British Grand Prix - and after talks between the pair - Norris backtracked on some of his comments from Austria, and felt that good friend Verstappen had no need to apologise for the "pathetic" incident. 

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was highly critical of Verstappen and the failure of the stewards to stamp out his tendency to move under braking - pointing to the 2021 title fight against Lewis Hamilton as evidence.

Stella's boss, McLaren CEO Brown also feels that the stewards need to improve their decision-making. 

"We obviously have some concerns over what happened last weekend, but that was last weekend," Brown explained to Sky Sports F1. 

"Andrea and I will address those to make sure the rules are consistently enforced, but Lando knows it is pretty tough out there and needs to put himself in a position to make sure it doesn't happen again. 

"But I think more of the responsibility is on the stewards to be more consistent in their policing of the regulations. 

"Until someone tells Max that what he is doing is outside of the regulations - and I don't blame Max, he is driving at the limit, he is a world champion - and that what he is doing isn't correct, I wouldn't expect him to drive any differently.

"We need some more consistency around our stewarding."

Avoiding contact

In the aftermath of the contact, Sky Sports F1 pundit Anthony Davidson explained how Verstappen had moved under braking.

With Brown sure the incident could have been avoided, he pointed to Davidson's analysis, which included other examples of Verstappen moving in the braking zone.

"I thought Anthony Davidson did a fantastic job in a very articulate manner demonstrating what is moving under braking," Brown added.

"Had it been flagged earlier, then maybe the incident wouldn't have taken place.

"After you have a few times of moving under braking, there should have been a [black and white] flag, and then ultimately a penalty and maybe the small touch they had would never have happened."