McLaren has argued that Max Verstappen being penalised over his clashes with Lando Norris in the Mexico City Grand Prix proves that “authority exists” in Formula 1.
Verstappen received two 10-second time penalties over incidents that occurred on the same lap when battling against Norris at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
The initial event on Lap 10 that landed Verstappen a punishment came at Turn 4 when Norris was shoved wide as he attempted a move around the Red Bull’s outside.
Norris cutting the track allowed him to seize the position until Verstappen retaliated with a contentious dive into Turn 7 which saw both lose a spot to Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen maintaining the place as he accelerated and returned to the track through the esses saw him be disciplined again, raising his total amount to 20 seconds.
The Dutchman being punished marked a contrast to last weekend in the United States when McLaren was angered that his near misses with Norris weren’t dealt with.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has claimed that Verstappen’s antics costing him demonstrate that the FIA has taken onboard the criticism that has ensued since Austin.
“In my opinion, and this is a comment that I make straight out of the race, so there may be some more details in terms of looking at the incidents and the interpretation of the incidents, but in my view, the penalties seemed to be consistent with the application of the guidelines and in relation to those kind of incidents,” Stella told media including Motorsport Week.
“So I think from this point of view, this has been a positive day because it shows that authority exists. It shows that the stewards have done a good job.
“A good job which surely comes from constant review like we do in anything in Formula 1, you review and then you improve.
“Certainly, as a team, we know there are things we can review and improve.
“To me it looks like this process has happened also in terms of stewarding, in terms of the FIA having taken some feedback constructively on board and we appreciate this.
“Not as a team but as part of the F1 community, I feel like I have to thank the FIA and the stewards.”
Norris doesn’t have to be more aggressive
Stella contends Verstappen’s penalties show that Norris doesn’t need to take matters into his own hands amid recent suggestions that he has to be more aggressive.
“I think Lando can look at his own racing, often looking at the half-empty glass in relation to what he could do,” he explained.
“Our conversations in our internal reviews have been very clear: Lando, ‘we like, we approve, we confirm the way you go racing’.
“It’s not for you to go there and try to find justice yourself.
“You go racing in a fair, sporting way like you do and then there needs to be a third party which is the stewarding that will say whether those maneuverers are correct or not.
“Don’t be desperate, you don’t have to prove anything, you go racing fair and square. This is what we want from Lando.
“This is what Lando wants from himself, and I think it was important that the team kind of confirms that’s what we want from you Lando.
“That’s how we want to go racing at McLaren and for a driver driving a McLaren car.
“That’s why it’s a positive day because I think it has proven that it’s good to race hard, but it can’t be resolved on track by the two drivers.
“It needs a third party, it needs the authority, so we are completely happy with the way Lando has gone racing before.
“Any time I’ve read these types of headlines, I maybe need to have a conversation with him and reassure him, ‘don’t worry, it will be alright, time is a gentleman’.”
READ MORE – Lando Norris wants Max Verstappen to ‘acknowledge’ he went ‘over the limit’ in Mexico
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