McLaren has decided to escalate the issue of Lando Norris’ penalty at the Canadian Grand Prix by requesting the FIA to reevaluate their decision. After Norris received a sanction for what the FIA deemed as unsportsmanlike behavior, he dropped from 9th to 13th place and lost valuable points. The FIA accused Norris of deliberately impeding his rivals during a safety car period to create a gap between himself and his teammate, Oscar Piastri, to avoid losing time during a double stack pit stop. Both Norris and the McLaren team expressed their dissatisfaction with the FIA’s ruling, as they believed it set a new precedent for behavior during races.
McLaren Supports the FIA but Questions the Ruling
In a statement issued on Friday night, McLaren voiced its support for the FIA and the Stewards while expressing its discontent with the decision regarding Norris. The team acknowledged the challenging nature of the Stewards’ job, making decisions under time pressure, analyzing complex scenarios with limited information, and considering multiple elements. However, McLaren found the penalty in Canada surprising and was uncertain about the rationale behind it. Therefore, the team engaged in immediate discussions with the Stewards to gain a better understanding of the reasoning behind the penalty.
The Strength of the FIA’s Regulatory Framework
McLaren recognized the effectiveness of the FIA’s regulatory framework in handling the operational complexity of Formula 1, especially when decisions need to be made during a race. The team emphasized that the “right of review” process exemplifies the strength of the institution and its commitment to allowing decisions to be reviewed if it is in the best interest of the sport. McLaren fully embraced and supported this provision.
After conducting a thorough and comprehensive review, which included examining precedents, McLaren concluded that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a “right to review” request. The team submitted this request to the FIA, demonstrating its determination to address the situation appropriately. McLaren expressed its intention to continue working closely and constructively with the FIA throughout the process and affirmed its willingness to accept the outcome of their deliberations and decision.
Teams Must Provide New Evidence for Review Requests
To have a request for a right of review accepted, teams are required to present new elements that were not available to the FIA at the time the initial decision was made. McLaren’s decision to move forward with the review indicates its belief in having obtained such new evidence, which they will present to the FIA during the reconsideration process.
By taking this course of action, McLaren aims to challenge the outcome of Norris’ penalty and potentially secure a more favorable ruling. The team’s determination to pursue a review demonstrates its commitment to fairness and the pursuit of sporting justice. The FIA will now evaluate McLaren’s request and decide whether to reopen the case based on the new evidence presented. The outcome of this review will have implications not only for Norris and McLaren but also for the future application of penalties in Formula 1.
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