In a thrilling twist, McLaren’s Lando Norris was slapped with a five-second penalty for allegedly gaining an unfair advantage during a bold overtaking maneuver on Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the final laps of the latest F1 race. The British driver’s gutsy move to overtake the reigning triple world champion was abruptly nullified by race officials, who deemed Norris had strayed off-track and reaped the benefits. Yet, the decision is shrouded in controversy, as the stewards themselves admitted Verstappen’s defensive tactics left Norris with little choice but to veer wide.
The penalty not only adds insult to injury for Norris, dropping him to 57 points behind the relentless Verstappen, who clinched third place, but it also stirs the pot as McLaren battles Red Bull in a heated constructors’ championship. Currently, McLaren holds a razor-thin 40-point lead over Red Bull, a margin that grows all the more tenuous as the season heads to its final rounds.
The FIA is not letting the situation settle quietly. On Friday, McLaren must appear before race stewards via video call at 14:30 Mexican time for a two-part hearing to reassess the decision. In the first stage, stewards will examine whether McLaren can produce “significant and relevant new elements” that weren’t previously available at the time of the initial ruling. If such evidence is presented, a second hearing will follow, intensifying the drama and setting the stage for potential fireworks.
Red Bull, ever vigilant in protecting their interests, has also been notified of the hearing and could join as a “concerned party” in this high-stakes showdown, where every decision could tilt the scales in the constructors’ championship.
