F1 US GP DISPUTES: Former F1 Champion Accuses FIA of Protect..

Former F1 Champion Damon Hill Accuses FIA of Favoring Max Verstappen at United States Grand Prix

Tensions ran high at the 2024 United States Grand Prix, with former Formula 1 champion Damon Hill criticizing the FIA for inconsistent rulings, particularly in an incident involving Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Hill expressed frustration with the governing body’s decisions over the weekend, which he felt lacked consistency, especially regarding penalties imposed on Norris for an incident with Verstappen.

The controversy began during Lap 52 of the race at the Circuit of the Americas. Norris, driving for McLaren, was locked in a tight battle with Verstappen, the three-time world champion. Attempting an overtake on the outside of Turn 12, Norris was pushed off the track by Verstappen. Both drivers carried enough speed to go off track, but Norris managed to complete the overtake beyond track limits. Refusing to relinquish the position, Norris crossed the finish line in third, ahead of Verstappen, who was in fourth.

However, Norris was hit with a five-second penalty for overtaking outside track limits. The penalty demoted him behind Verstappen in the final standings, allowing the Red Bull driver to finish on the podium and extend his championship lead over Norris by five points, widening the gap to 57 points.

Hill, a vocal critic of the FIA’s handling of the race, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice his displeasure. He argued that the FIA’s decisions were inconsistent, citing a similar incident in the sprint race involving Oscar Piastri and Pierre Gasly. In that encounter, Piastri was penalized for pushing Gasly off the track, a situation Hill believed mirrored the Norris-Verstappen clash.

“I’m not convinced the Stewarding was consistent in that race,” Hill wrote. “Lando went deep to pass and did so off track. That said, Max did not give him room on the exit and barged him off the track in turn 1, lap 1. The rules need to be better.”

McLaren team CEO Zak Brown echoed Hill’s sentiments, accusing the FIA of bias in favor of Verstappen. “Damon, I’m convinced it’s not!” Brown replied on X, to which Hill responded, “Yeah, but you’re necessarily biased. Even if you’re not!”

The inconsistency in stewarding led to widespread frustration throughout the paddock. Hill’s criticism highlighted a broader concern in the sport—fair and uniform application of rules. Despite the public outcry, McLaren confirmed that they would not pursue the matter further, choosing to move on from the incident.

However, Hill’s comments have put pressure on the FIA to address the issue of consistency in their rulings. Throughout the race weekend, there were multiple incidents where penalties were applied unevenly, leaving teams and drivers questioning the transparency and fairness of the decisions.

One particularly contentious moment came in the sprint race when Oscar Piastri was penalized for pushing Pierre Gasly off the track. The FIA’s decision in this case contrasted sharply with the ruling in the Norris-Verstappen incident, further fueling the debate over inconsistent stewarding.

While McLaren has decided to close the issue, the controversy surrounding the FIA’s actions remains. Many within the F1 community are calling for clearer, more consistent regulations to ensure that all drivers are treated fairly, regardless of their standing in the championship.

As Verstappen’s sprint race win and third-place finish at the US GP helped solidify his lead in the drivers’ standings, the debate over FIA’s stewarding continues to overshadow what should have been a celebration of competitive racing. Moving forward, the FIA will need to address these concerns if they want to restore confidence in the fairness of their rulings and maintain the integrity of the sport.