Norris-Verstappen U.S. GP duel brings into question F1 rules

AUSTIN, Texas — As Ferrari celebrated a stunning one-two victory at the U.S. Grand Prix, controversy loomed over a thrilling battle for the final podium spot.

Lando Norris was handed a five-second penalty after overtaking his championship rival, Max Verstappen, off-track. This decision by the stewards effectively reversed the positions at the finish line, handing Verstappen the advantage and extending his lead in the drivers’ championship by six points.

This pivotal shift in the standings sparked debate about the consistency of F1 stewarding and the rationale behind the sport’s racing rules.

The Incident Norris, who lost a place to Verstappen at the start of the race, was determined to regain the position. At Turn 1 on the opening lap, Verstappen made a daring move on the inside of Norris, pushing both drivers off the track. While Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc seized the lead, Verstappen returned to the track in second, followed by Carlos Sainz in third and Norris in fourth.

As the race progressed, Norris made a later pit stop, allowing him to use fresher tyres to hunt down Verstappen, who had just lost second place to Sainz during his stop. On lap 52, Norris used DRS to challenge Verstappen on the approach to Turn 12. Verstappen, braking too late, forced both cars off the track. Norris rejoined in third place and, after fending off Verstappen’s attempt to pass, began pulling ahead. However, the stewards’ penalty later overturned this result, fueling further debate about F1’s rules.