McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has urged the FIA to reconsider Formula 1’s current racing guidelines following a controversial battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris during the United States Grand Prix. The incident occurred when Verstappen overtook Norris at the start of the race, forcing both drivers wide at Turn 1, and later defended his position in a similar fashion at Turn 12, with Norris attempting to pass on the outside.
Stella acknowledged that the first incident was deemed an opening-lap incident by the stewards, but he believes the current driving standards leave room for ambiguity. He expressed concerns over the interpretation of racing guidelines, particularly the “ahead at the apex” rule, which he feels is not the most relevant factor when considering overtaking maneuvers.
“I think the ‘ahead at the apex’ in relation to the interpretation of the overtaking maneuver is not the relevant bit,” Stella said. “Max is just going straight, giving no chance for Lando to complete the maneuver.”
Stella also raised concerns about Verstappen’s defensive driving tactics, suggesting that Verstappen frequently uses this technique to force both cars off track, which leaves no room for a clean overtake. He pointed out that McLaren’s interpretation of the incident is vastly different from that of the stewards.
The controversy was further fueled when Norris was handed a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, which pushed him off the podium. Stella criticized the FIA for making a rapid decision without discussing the incident with the drivers involved, especially since it occurred late in the race between two championship contenders.
“I am surprised that the stewards didn’t even feel the need to discuss with the drivers after the race,” Stella said. “Where is the urgency to interfere with the result of a race… just because you have to make the decision in 60 seconds? It’s a question mark that I think the stewards should take constructively.”
Although McLaren is unable to appeal the decision, Stella has called on the FIA to analyze the incident to improve future race stewarding. He emphasized that a thorough review could help create clearer guidelines and prevent similar disputes in the future.
“The decision cannot be appealed, so for us the matter is closed,” he said. “We hope that the FIA and the stewards will review the case, so that in the future we will have a better policy, a better stewardship of the racing.”
With the matter now settled, Stella and McLaren are focusing on the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix, but the incident has raised broader questions about the consistency and clarity of Formula 1’s racing rules and the FIA’s decision-making process.
