Everything you need to know about the controversial pass on Max Verstappen that Lando Norris was penalized for at the US Grand Prix.

What happened between Norris and Verstappen?

After starting together from the front row, Verstappen and Norris fought an exciting battle for third place behind the Ferrari one-two of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Verstappen aggressively drove past the inside of pole-sitter Norris on the first lap and overtook his title rival. Therefore, the McLaren driver drove long in the first stint in order to have fresher tires for the last 25 laps.

Norris chased Verstappen and took DRS with 13 laps to go. Over the next 10 laps the pair put up a great battle as Verstappen held off his rival before Norris finally overtook him at Turn 12 on lap 52, albeit off track.

The titular protagonists entered the tight corner side by side, with Verstappen on the inside and Norris on the outside, and there was little difference between them at the exit. Verstappen also came off the track in his defense as he lost position.

On the final lap of the race, race stewards announced that Norris had received a five-second time penalty for “leaving the track and gaining an advantage.”

Norris crossed the finish line 4.1 seconds ahead of Verstappen and thus fell behind the reigning world champion in the final standings.

The result meant Verstappen finished on the podium and Norris settled for fourth, allowing the Dutchman to extend his championship lead to 57 points with five races to go.

The stewards' statement

About an hour after the United States Grand Prix, won by Charles Leclerc, the stewards gave their full reasoning for imposing the penalty on Norris:

“Stewards reviewed the tracking/maneuvering system data as well as video and video evidence in the car.

“Car 4 overtook Car 1 on the outside but was not level with Car 1 at the apex. Therefore, according to driving standards guidelines, Car 4 had lost the “right” to turn.

“After Car 4 left the track and came back ahead of Car 1, this is deemed to be a track departure and a permanent advantage.

“Instead of the 10-second penalty recommended in the guidelines, a 5-second penalty is imposed because the driver of car 4, having committed to overtaking from the outside, had little choice due to the proximity of car 1, as leaving the track also left the track.

“In light of the above, we conclude that this will not be considered a track limit “strike” for Car 4.”

What did Norris and Verstappen say?

Lando Norris on Sky Sports F1:

“I tried. He also went off the track. So when he went off the track, he obviously went in way too hard and he also gained an advantage with what he did. But I don't make the rules, so…”

Norris added: “He defends by going off the track, he overtakes by going off the track. But I won't complain about it. I think Max rode well, he defended well and we had a good race together, but the rules are the rules.”

Max Verstappen on Sky Sports F1:

“Here too, I lost a podium place when I overtook Kimi Räikkönen on the inside in 2017. It is very clear that you are not allowed to overtake outside the white line.”

“There is nothing more to say. It’s painful, but we had a really good fight until then.”

What about the team bosses?

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella on Sky Sports F1:

“In my opinion, the way the stewards intervened in a beautiful piece of motorsport was inappropriate because both cars went off the track and both cars gained an advantage.”

“It's a shame because it cost us a podium and a race in which we remained patient after being pushed away on the first lap and in the first corner. We accepted it.”

“However, it is clearly our position that such a decision cannot be appealed. This chapter is now closed and we move on to the next race.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner on Sky Sports F1:

“It was a tough race between them. They went off the track and Lando went off the track. The rules are very, very clear.”

“Max spoke directly over the radio, the race director made it pretty clear. Obviously off the track.”

“The rules are the rules. The drivers know this. They drive accordingly. Max was very aware that this was illegal as soon as Lando crossed the white line and overtook.”

Should Norris have given the position back immediately?

Norris would have avoided a penalty if he had given up the position to Verstappen before attempting to overtake again.

However, McLaren repeatedly said on the radio that he was in the lead at the apex of Turn 12, and Norris suggested that he was forced to get out.

Norris told Sky Sports F1 after the race: “You can’t say that. Obviously you can only make a decision after a few rounds, so of course it’s not an easy decision, otherwise it would have been made a little earlier.”

Stella added: “We double-checked that both cars went off the track, so there is no doubt in our minds that the maneuver (decision) was correct.”

Horner was asked what he would have done in McLaren's place and said: “I think with hindsight, what we saw, I would have done that because you could see the pace advantage that Lando had.”

“There was always doubt about that and it looked like a slam dunk for us, so why take the risk? To have that speed advantage, he could have done it again, but from the inside.”

What do Sky Sports' F1 experts think about the incident?

2009 World Champion Jenson Button:

“Both cars went off the track and it’s frustrating for us to watch. Lando came off the track, but so did Max, so it depends on who was in front at the apex.”

“Max was in front, but was that because he let off the brake at the apex or because he both went off the track? It seems that your driver (Verstappen) understands the regulations very well.”

“The problem is more that we need to have better regulation about what is OK and what is not.”

“We saw that there was a lot of fighting on the track in that corner, with people overtaking and pushing others off the track. If it was Monaco they wouldn’t do this.”

“It’s as if we needed a rule that said you couldn’t push a car completely off the track, then we’d have better racing.”

Martin Brundle on the comment:

“I think this is a fair cop for Norris. I think he should have given it back straight away.”

“If he had found another second in the final laps, it would have been the right decision.”

“I think it was inevitable that Norris would get some sort of punishment.”

Anthony Davidson on the SkyPad:

“Lando is not in the lead at the apex. When he turns into the corner he is at first, but at the crucial point in the corner Lando is not in front.”

“The car in front can then determine where you park the car. It's pretty difficult to try to pass someone on the outside and expect them to give you room on the outside. That can happen, but it won't happen with Max Verstappen. Norris will do it.” Do that.

“Verstappen did what I expected. Got off track? You can say that. But you weren’t in front.”

“Both drivers went off the track but he is cautioned for that. We saw that during the race.”

“Lando is now overtaking off the track. That's the difference. One is next to it, one is next to it and overtaken.”

“My final criticism of them is that they shouldn’t be out there at all. There should be gravel there, then none of this would be an issue.”

Formula 1's triple-header in America continues next weekend with the Mexico City Grand Prix, with each session broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month membership – no contract, cancel anytime