McLaren's bid to overturn the five-second penalty that cost Lando Norris valuable points in his championship fight with Max Verstappen has failed.
The review took place ahead of the Mexican GP, but Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko had predicted the appeal would be dismissed from the outset.
"This requires new and serious facts, and we don't see them," Marko told ORF prior to the hearing. "It is McLaren's right to request a right of review, but they will only be successful if they have new and clear evidence. Let's wait and see."
Norris received the penalty for going beyond track limits while passing Verstappen in Austin. The incident stirred controversy, with some accusing Verstappen of deliberately forcing Norris off the track by easing off the brakes to reach the apex first whilst never actually intending to make the corner properly.
However, Verstappen pushed back against these claims. "Can people read my mind or what?" the Dutchman said. "Sorry, I'm a racing driver, of course I try to make a corner. But I'm driving according to the rules. We're allowed to drive hard against each other."
Despite his frustration with the penalty, Norris, who is now trailing Verstappen by 57 points with only five races remaining, acknowledged that he had been bested by the reigning champion. "It's a shame to say it, but it's probably true that he is the best in the world and I am not quite at that level yet in this style of defence and attack."
Former F1 driver Christian Danner sided with Verstappen in the debate, stating that the Red Bull driver had done nothing wrong. "Max defended himself in the toughest way possible - while staying within the limits," Danner told Bild. "He and Red Bull know the rules well and use every opportunity to achieve the best possible result for themselves."
Marko echoed those sentiments, pointing out that the penalty was enforced based on rules initially agreed upon by the drivers themselves. "The drivers were also responsible for introducing these rules, and according to the rules it was very clear that the penalty had to be imposed," he concluded. body check tags ::
