October 21, (THEWILL) – McLaren team principal Andrea Stella voiced strong criticism following a controversial penalty handed to driver Lando Norris at the 2024 United States Grand Prix. Stella labelled the stewards’ decision as “inappropriate”, arguing it interfered with “a beautiful piece of motorsport” between Norris and Max Verstappen.
The incident occurred in the closing laps when Norris and Verstappen battled for position, resulting in both drivers running off-track. Race stewards penalised Norris with a five-second time penalty, dropping him from third to fourth place. Stella contended that since both cars left the track, neither driver should have been deemed to have gained an unfair advantage.
Despite the controversy, Ferrari capitalised on the opportunity, claiming a dominant one-two finish. Charles Leclerc led teammate Carlos Sainz across the line, marking Leclerc’s first victory on American soil. The Monegasque driver attributed the team’s success to recent upgrades, stating: “We did a great job and the pace of the car was really good and that’s thanks to the engineers and the team.”
The race outcome significantly impacted the championship standings. Verstappen, benefiting from Norris’s penalty, extended his lead in the drivers’ championship to 57 points. In the constructors’ battle, Ferrari’s strong performance narrowed the gap to leaders McLaren and second-placed Red Bull, with only five races remaining in the 2024 season.
Norris, reflecting on his race, remained philosophical about the penalty and his overall performance. “Not my best race”, he admitted, acknowledging the challenges he faced throughout the event. The British driver now faces an uphill battle in his quest to challenge Verstappen for the world title.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
