P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella said the “FIA should consider very seriously if we want fairness to be part of going racing in Formula 1 after Lando Norris was handed a stop/go penalty in the Qatar Grand Prix.
During the Qatar GP, Lando Norris was closing in on Max Verstappen when he failed to slow down under yellow flags at Turn 1, receiving a 10-second stop-and-go penalty from the stewards. This penalty cost Norris valuable positions, pushing him to the back of the field and requiring him to fight back to salvage points. Norris believed the penalty was deserved but questioned its severity, emphasizing the importance of proportion and specificity in applying penalties. McLaren team boss Stella criticized the stewards’ approach as simplistic and called for a review of the severity of penalties in Formula 1 races to avoid unintended consequences. Stella expressed confidence in the FIA to review the situation and make necessary improvements without passing judgment on the FIA’s newly appointed Race Director. The McLaren team expects the FIA to examine the application of Norris’ penalty and make appropriate changes for the fairness and integrity of Formula 1 racing.
