Ex-F1 champion blames stewards for ‘making a mess’ of Max Verstappen’s incident with Lando Norris at US GP
Jacques Villeneuve criticized the stewards for mishandling the incident between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris during the US GP.
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Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris clashed in a tense fight for third place at the US Grand Prix. Both drivers gave everything, turning the race into a heated contest. Pundits, drivers, and teams shared their views on a controversial incident between them, with ex-F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve also voicing his opinion on it.
Jacques Villeneuve called the stewards at the US GP amateur who mishandled the situation between Verstappen and Norris. During the race’s second half, Lando Norris closed the gap on Max Verstappen, leading to a multi-lap duel.
On lap 52, he briefly overtook Verstappen off-track, but the Dutchman maintained his position at the apex, prompting stewards to intervene. Villeneuve reckoned Norris deserved his penalty but also felt Verstappen should have been penalized too.
The F1 stewards made a mess. At the start does Max deserve a penalty for pushing Lando completely off the track? Yes. Let’s look at the incident where Lando was punished.
Jacques Villeneuve said, as reported by Canadacasino.ca
Villeneuve noted that Max Verstappen didn’t properly make the corner because of which he also deserved to be penalized. Norris going far beyond the limits had caught FIA’s eyes on him ultimately penalizing the Briton
Did Lando floor it when he was on the outside of the track? Yes, he did. Was he ahead at the apex? It’s difficult to see from the angle but possibly. Why was he off the track? Because he had been pushed off the track. He did gain an advantage but Max did not make the corner.
Jacques Villeneuve stated
The controversy arose from the two drivers being in a cutthroat battle for the championship. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella also voiced concerns about the stewards inappropriately interfering in the intense battle between the two.
Jacques Villeneuve believes both Max Verstappen and Lando Norris deserved penalties
The FIA has set a rule requiring drivers to stay within track limits, marked by white lines. If a driver gains an advantage by going off the track, they can receive a five-second penalty. In the incident between Norris and Verstappen, both drivers went off track, with the latter pushing Norris.
Jacques Villeneuve criticized the FIA, stating that the rules are clear, yet only the 24-year-old received a penalty. He argues that Verstappen should also have been penalized to uphold the integrity and professionalism of Formula 1.
The rules are clear. When a car drives someone else off the track they get a five second penalty. Both Norris and Max should have had a penalty.
Jacques Villeneuve stated
If both were penalized the results would’ve been different with Lando Norris in third position and Max Verstappen in fifth. Currently, Norris trails the Dutchman by 57 points. With only five races and two sprints remaining, he must close the gap on Verstappen quickly.
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Gaurang Kadam
(535 Articles Published)