McLaren thought Max Verstappen was the one being investigated rather than Lando Norris in the incident involving the two in the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.
Norris crossed the line in third in Austin, but he was denied another podium finish as a five-second time penalty dropped him behind championship leader Verstappen.
The Briton capitalised on running an extended opening stint to come back at Verstappen in the closing stages and he spied an opening to complete a pass on Lap 52.
But although Norris was pushed wide when he attempted to make the overtake around the outside at Turn 12, the McLaren driver secured the place and pulled ahead.
However, the FIA stewards determined that Norris gained a lasting advantage outside track limits and the subsequent time drop cost him the last spot on the podium.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has denied Verstappen’s claim that it was a clear rules breach, citing that both drivers ended up going beyond the extremities of the track.
“I think the ahead of the apex in relation to the interpretation of the overtaking manoeuvre is not the relevant bit,” Stella told media including Motorsport Week.
“I think the defending car goes just straight at the apex.
“We checked the video multiple times. It’s just going straight, it’s just going off track as much as Lando is doing, just giving no chance for Lando to complete the manoeuvre.
“If I were a journalist, I would have done a bit of statistics. How many times Max has used this way for defending?
“Both cars go off track. So I think both cars are gaining an advantage if there’s an advantage gained. So for us this manoeuvre was at the least neutral.”
Stella has divulged that his initial reaction once the stewards opened an investigation into the incident was that Verstappen was set to be punished rather than Norris.
The Italian also concurred with Norris in questioning the stewards’ decision to pursue an urgent outcome to the matter without listening to the view from either driver.
“When I saw that there was an under investigation, I was pretty sure that was because Max pushed Lando off the track,” he continued.
“And in fact we told immediately Oscar, make sure you close five seconds on Max because there could be a position at stake.
“So the interpretation of this situation between McLaren and the stewards is polar opposite.
“I am surprised that the stewards didn’t even feel the need to discuss with the drivers after the race. It is an uncertain situation.
“Get the opinion of the drivers, get the time to assess the situation with the level of details that is required when the situation is not so clear.
“So where is the urgency to interfere with the result of a race with a championship course just because you have to make the decision in 60 seconds?
“It’s a question mark that I think the stewards should take constructively, positively. Is it really needed to make a decision so quickly and, in our opinion, so wrongly?”
McLaren will not chase appeal
Stella has disclosed that McLaren will not be appealing the decision, but he hopes that the team’s outrage will lead the FIA to prioritise better calls on racing incidents.
“The decision cannot be appealed, so for us the matter is closed,” he admitted.
“Myself, the drivers, the team. Now we close this chapter.
“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. We now focus on the next race.”
Expanding on the choice to not attempt to overturn the result, Stella pinpointed that McLaren wouldn’t have the criteria required to adhere to the FIA’s appeals process.
“I don’t think new and relevant evidence exists, because the only evidence that we have used so far to assess our interpretation, which is in disagreement with the stewards, is what is already available,” he added.
“So if you open up the right of review, I don’t think it will ever be successful because you don’t need new evidence. It’s just a matter of interpretation.”
READ MORE: Lando Norris criticises ‘rushed’ stewards’ outcome in Max Verstappen F1 US GP clash
