Why McLaren opted against Norris 'Verstappen surrender' at US GP

Andrea Stella has revealed why McLaren did not tell Lando Norris to let Max Verstappen re-pass him after their controversial United States GP incident. 

On Lap 52 of 56, Norris attempted to drive around the outside of Verstappen at Turn 12, but the Red Bull driver got off the brakes and ran the pair out wide and off the track, with Norris passing for third off-track. 

Under the overtaking guidelines supplied to drivers - and which is not public, if a driver has their front axle alongside the front axle of the car they are attempting to pass, they are entitled to racing room - with McLaren believing this to be the case in the incident.

However, the stewards disagreed, with Norris being handed a five-second time penalty for the move, promoting Verstappen back onto the podium, to increase his points lead to 57. 

Throughout the incident, McLaren did not instruct Norris to let the Red Bull back past, which has previously meant a time penalty has not followed as Norris was deemed to have gained a "lasting advantage."

Explaining McLaren's thought process, team principal Stella described how the team felt the investigation was actually set to be focused on Verstappen. 

"There was complete agreement by all the people involved in this situation that it did not need to be investigated," Stella told media including RacingNews365.

"Once we saw the investigation, we thought it would be for Max pushing Lando off the track - that is what we thought was going to happen when we saw the case was under investigation.

"So for us, there was no need to give the position back because of the situation."

McLaren 'upset'

Also under the spotlight was Verstappen's move at Turn 1 on the opening lap, divebombing Norris off the track and allowing the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc through for the lead.

The stewards are normally inclined to give drivers a bit of leeway at Turn 1 on the opening lap of the race, but Verstappen was penalised with a five-second time penalty at the 2023 Las Vegas GP for doing the same thing to Leclerc.

Stella felt McLaren was "upset" by the call and wanted the stewards to hear from the drivers post-race instead of an immediate sanction.

"We were a little upset by the manoeuvre in corner one because not only did Max gain the position, but it cost the exit for Lando and lost position to both Ferraris," he said.

"We understood that the stewards might have applied the first lap mitigating circumstances, and we accepted it because we always have respect for the difficulties that the stewards operate under.

"But they should have respect for their job as well, and when the case is so difficult, like Lando and Max, they should just take the time to view it after the race, hear from the drivers and try to understand the subtleties. 

"First lap, the first corner can be mitigated by the first lap interpretation, but this was difficult to understand. 

"I don't want to look like I am criticising people, I am just criticising the approach. If you are uncertain, you should give yourself time, give yourself a way to be as accurate as possible."