Red Bull has argued that McLaren should have ordered Lando Norris to let Max Verstappen pass to avoid him being penalised in Formula 1‘s United States Grand Prix.
Norris took the chequered flag in third place behind the two Ferrari drivers in Austin, but he was demoted one position once he had a five-second time penalty applied.
The Briton incurred the time drop that denied him the last spot on the rostrum when he exceeded track limits to complete a move on Verstappen at Turn 12 on Lap 52.
McLaren claimed that Norris’ overtake should have gone unpunished as Verstappen pushed him wide, but the stewards deemed that he obtained a lasting advantage.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has revealed that he was perplexed by McLaren’s outrage as he contends that the regulations are clear-cut surrounding such incidents.
“First of all, the racing between the two of them, it was competitive and great to watch and all the drivers know acutely what the rules are,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“They discuss these issues in particular corners in the briefings with the various stewards and driver stewards and race director.
“So look, the pass was made off-track. We’ve been on the receiving end of that. In fact, here, I think, against Kimi [Raikkonen] in 2018 [sic, 2017].
“So for us, it was crystal clear that the pass had been made off the track. So he should have given the place back. He chose not to. So therefore there was a penalty.
“So for us, it was very much a black-and-white scenario.”
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella expressed that the stewards’ verdict on the clash should’ve been prolonged until the panel had the chance to talk to the drivers.
Horner, though, has reiterated that he saw it as a “slam dunk” penalty and praised how the stewards reached that outcome in time to let Verstappen go on the podium.
“The problem is [if not] we then have the arguments, that you want the right people on the podium,” he explained.
“It’s happened so many times that I actually think the stewards dealt with it pretty rapidly and decently today.”
Horner empathises with stewards’ workload
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was angered as George Russell was penalised over a similar manoeuvre to Verstappen at the same corner when he passed Valtteri Bottas.
But when asked whether more consistent decisions are needed, Horner replied: “I think it’s very difficult for the stewards, and every incident is different.
“So you have to look at every incident individually.
“When you’re on the receiving end of it, it’s not nice. As I say, we’ve been on the receiving end of it numerous times, not just at this track, but at other tracks.”
Norris should have given up place to Verstappen
Instead, Horner has asserted that McLaren made a grave error in not getting Norris to move aside as he is certain he would have had the pace to re-pass the Red Bull.
Norris questioned whether he was in front at the apex, to which his race engineer Will Joseph told him that he had been and to maintain the position over Verstappen.
“What I perhaps didn’t understand was it was clear there was going to be a penalty, or it looked pretty clear there was going to be a penalty,” he said.
“With the car advantage and tyre advantage that McLaren had at that point of the race, it looked like he went to give the place back up at Turn 1.
“But there was some confusion there. If he’d have given the place back immediately, he would have probably had enough pace to make the pass [again].”
READ MORE: Max Verstappen issues ‘very clear’ verdict on Lando Norris penalty in F1 US GP
