Schumacher criticises race control over Verstappen and Norris incident

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has questioned race control's need to interfere during the United States Grand Prix.

Lando Norris was issued a five-second time penalty for gaining an advantage off the track while battling Max Verstappen for third place.

The pair came to blows in the final stages of the grand prix with Norris looking to eat into Verstappen's championship lead.

However, the McLaren driver was demoted back to fourth place after being deemed to have overtaken Verstappen off the circuit.

Schumacher has criticised the stewards for intervening in the battle.

“Verstappen put his car in the corner and there was no room for Norris at that moment,” Schumacher told Sky Deutschland. 

“Of course he would have preferred to take a better line, but I think it's a shame. 

“For me it was racing. Max tried everything, Norris tried everything. The penalty was not entirely necessary from my point of view.”

While Schumacher understands the argument of Norris conceding position and trying again, the German highlighted Verstappen also went off while defending.

“You can say: but where should he go? Then he has to slow down, somehow find a way to get back behind him and try again the next lap,” he said. “That's how you can see it. 

“But he's in the lead and then Max just drives in and out. Max doesn't make the corner either. From that point of view I don't think it's fair.

“I would have preferred those two to be left alone and the FIA ​​to stay out of it.”