McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has lashed out at the United States Grand Prix stewards, calling their intervention in the Lando Norris and Max Verstappen fight for third “inappropriate,” after Norris was slapped with a five-second penalty for passing off-track.

The drama unfolded as Norris, on a charge during the hard-tyre stint, closed in on Verstappen. His relentless pressure had Verstappen defending with textbook precision, blocking every move Norris threw at him. But on lap 45, with DRS open, Norris finally drew alongside. Verstappen held the inside line, both cars running off-track, with Norris slipping ahead. McLaren’s pitwall was confident both drivers had breached track limits, assuming the incident would go unpunished.

However, Norris couldn't stretch his lead beyond the five-second threshold to mitigate the penalty, finishing just 4.1 seconds clear of Verstappen—meaning the Dutchman held onto third by a hair.

Stella was unimpressed, adamant that the stewards had mishandled the situation. “There’s no doubt in my mind that both cars went off-track and both gained an advantage,” Stella told Sky Sports F1. “The stewards interfered with what was a brilliant piece of motorsport, and it cost us a podium.”

He went on to express frustration with the inconsistency of the stewards' decisions, especially given that Norris had already been forced wide at Turn 1 in the race's early stages. “We accepted being pushed off at the start, but this penalty was unnecessary. Unfortunately, these decisions can’t be appealed, so we move on to the next race.”

When asked if Norris should have given the place back, Stella stood firm, explaining that both drivers had left the track. “We double-checked the data, and for us, there was no doubt the manoeuvre was fair.”

Norris himself weighed in on the controversy, noting how long it took the stewards to hand down the penalty, suggesting it wasn’t a straightforward call. He also pointed out that Verstappen’s aggressive first-lap move, which saw both cars run wide, had gone unpunished, while his challenge for third didn’t receive the same leniency.

“They took their time with the decision, which shows it was on the edge,” Norris explained to Sky Sports F1. “Max also went off-track, gaining an advantage by going in too deep. But I don’t make the rules.”

Reflecting on the start, Norris admitted he’d need to review the footage. “It was tight. Max went for a gap, as he’s entitled to, but he was completely off-track. He defended by going off, and overtook by going off, but I’m not here to complain. Max drove well, we had a proper race. The rules are what they are.”

Despite the frustrations, Norris kept a positive outlook, focusing on the strong race pace and the thrilling duel with Verstappen, even if the stewards’ decision left a bitter aftertaste.