McLaren warns Norris’ Austria F1 track limits penalty could discourage overtaking

McLaren has warned that track limit infractions over failed passing moves could discourage overtaking amid Lando Norris’ penalty in Formula 1’s Austrian Grand Prix.

Norris was involved in an intense duel with Max Verstappen during the closing laps at the Red Bull Ring when he was placed under investigation regarding track limits.

The Briton had crossed over a white line three times to be handed the black-and-white flag and he then went wide again with an attempt to pass Verstappen at Turn 3.

Despite claiming that Verstappen had pushed him, Norris was placed under investigation and punished with a five-second time penalty which proved inconsequential.

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McLaren boss Andrea Stella has urged the FIA to consider altering the regulations to ensure that drivers are encouraged to continue making bold overtaking attempts.

“When it comes to track limits, I think if the track limits is because you are trying to overtake somebody and you lock a little bit, then I wonder what kind of racing we’re going to have if this is enforced in this way, because drivers will not even attempt to overtake because it will cost me one of the three strikes I have available,” Stella explained.

“But this one I think can be easily resolved, and we are not upset about this.

“We think it’s wrong, but it’s important that it’s addressed for the future, because we want to see distinction between track limits which are genuine because you are trying to take an advantage in terms of racing line and track limits that come with a big loss of advantage because you went off, and they have to do with all the racing manoeuvres that we enjoy.

“And that’s why we’re here in our own jobs, because that’s the racing we like.”

Norris and Verstappen would later come to blows at the same turn on Lap 64 and a puncture caused substantial damage that sent the McLaren driver into retirement.

But while there were doubts McLaren hadn’t served Norris’ penalty prior to wheeling his car into the garage, Stella has disclosed that the team completed the practice.

Asked whether McLaren carried out the sanction to avoid a potential grid drop at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, Stella responded: “That’s what we did.

“And then we sort of assessed that the car was not in [a] condition to continue because the bodywork was completely destroyed, unfortunately. Not only the floor.”

Stella attributed Verstappen’s uncompromising approach rearing its head again to his aggressive driving not being clamped down on enough with previous instances.

And with the Dutchman having remained in the race and come home in fifth as Norris retired, the Italian has suggested that the FIA should review several regulations.

Questioned on whether he considered it unfair that Verstappen managed to extend his points advantage despite being penalised, Stella replied: “That’s a tricky one.

“That’s a tricky one because if the stewards elected that the 10 seconds was an appropriate penalty they – to some extent – go by their rulebook.

“So it’s complex, because sometimes the outcome can by minor, sometimes it can be big like in this case with a car taken out and with the other car heavily compromised.

“I don’t want to be in a position where I make everything simple and say everything was clear. Things sometimes are complex, they deserve enough reflection.

“I think the 10 seconds today was ineffective and we have the driver that we are trying to catch in the classification that gained 10 points. It definitely deserves a reflection.

“I’m sure the FIA will approach today, like I said before, as an episode which gives us a richness of cases that should be analyzed and think ‘how do we move forward?’

“Because we don’t want to see another 2021. I thought that was not a good point in Formula 1 racing. It might have been entertaining, but not for the good reasons.”