Max Verstappen has hit out at McLaren for complaining about the penalty handed to Lando Norris at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday, Afrosport reports.
Norris was given with a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage during his battle with Verstappen.
It meant that Verstappen finished in third place while Norris dropped to fourth, giving the former a 57-point advantage in the drivers’ championship with five races to go.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was unhappy about the penalty, saying it was wrong for the stewards to intervene.
“My view is that the way that the stewards interfered with a beautiful piece of motorsport was inappropriate because both cars were off track, so both cars gained an advantage,” Stella said.
“It’s a shame because it cost us a podium. It cost us a race where we stayed patient after we were pushed off in the first lap at the first corner. We accepted it.”
Reacting to those comments, Verstappen said: “… They complain about a lot lately anyway,” he said in the FIA press conference in Austin.
“It’s very clear in the rules. Outside the white line you can’t pass. I’ve been done for it as well in the past.”
A big moment in the race and potentially the season 😮
Norris overtakes Verstappen but picks up a 5-second penalty for passing off track ✋#F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/y1DFXGde0U
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 20, 2024
Reflecting on the battle with Norris, he added: “I just tried to do the best I could. The balance wasn’t great. I was not able to attack the corners. He was putting a lot of pressure. Around here, it’s quite a good track to defend. There’s a lot of possibilities. It makes it good for racing.
“I think it’s quite clear you can’t overtake out of the white line. I got done for it in 2017 or whatever it was so I lost my podium like that. I was just remaining calm, do the best I could after that to bring the car until the end. It wasn’t easy with the tyres and situation I was in. Overall, I still really enjoyed that battle we had.”
Verstappen and Norris will now turn their attention to the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend.
