Horner Struggles to Understand McLaren Protests: ‘It Was Crystal Clear to Us’

Christian Horner is perplexed by McLaren’s protests following the race in Austin. The Red Bull team principal believes that the regulations clearly explain why Lando Norris received a five-second time penalty for his overtaking maneuver on Max Verstappen. The stewards further clarified why Norris was .comy handed a five-second penalty instead of the more common ten-second sanction.

Understanding the Controversy

After the Austin Grand Prix, a significant debate arose regarding the on-track incident between Norris and Verstappen in the race’s closing laps. McLaren expressed confusion over why .comy Norris received a penalty for the widely discussed overtaking attempt on Verstappen, especially since the Dutch driver also left the track at that moment. Horner, on the other hand, was taken aback by McLaren’s strong response to the situation.

The Competitive Nature of Racing

“Firstly, the racing between those two was fierce and highly entertaining, and all drivers are well aware of the rules,” Horner explained to the media present. “The overtaking move was executed off the track. We have encountered this scenario before, including right here at COTA against Kimi (Räikkönen). It was abundantly clear to us that the overtake took place off the racing surface, which meant he should have yielded the position. He chose not to do so, which is why a penalty was warranted.”

Clarification from the Stewards

The stewards detailed their rationale for issuing the penalty to Norris, confirming that he overtook Verstappen while off the track. Formally, this is categorized as leaving the track and gaining an advantage. According to the official FIA report, “Car 4 (Norris) attempted to overtake Car 1 (Verstappen) around the outside but was not at the same level as Car 1 at the apex. Thus, based on the Driving Standards Guidelines, Car 4 lost its right to the corner. Since Car 4 left the track and returned ahead of Car 1, this situation is classified as leaving the track and obtaining a lasting advantage.”

Dissenting Opinions

In response to the ruling, Norris questioned the stewards’ decision, noting that Verstappen also left the track during the exchange. This comment highlights the ongoing debates surrounding racing regulations, particularly concerning what constitutes an advantage gained through such actions. Interestingly, the stewards provided insight into why Norris received a lesser penalty of five seconds rather than the standard ten seconds: “A five-second penalty was imposed instead of the ten seconds recommended in the guidelines because Car 4’s driver had little alternative but to leave the track due to the proximity of Car 1, which also had exited the track.”

This incident underscores the complexities of racing rules and the often subjective nature of penalties in high-stakes situations. As teams continue to navigate these challenging moments on the track, the dialogues that unfold in the aftermath shed light on the broader implications for the sport. In the world of Formula 1, every decision on the track has the potential to spark debates that resonate far beyond the race itself.