McLaren challenge Norris penalty that cost two points

A five-second penalty at the Canadian Grand Prix has cost McLaren two constructors' championship points, prompting the team to lodge a formal challenge with the FIA just days after the race concluded.

Lando Norris was penalised for "unsportsmanlike behaviour" during a safety-car period at Montreal, a decision that dropped him from ninth to 13th in the final classification. The four-position swing removed McLaren from the points and shuffled the standings: Lance Stroll of Aston Martin climbed to ninth place, while both Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo Sauber gained additional championship points as a result.

The incident itself was born from tactical necessity rather than malice. When George Russell made contact with the barrier, triggering the safety car, Norris faced an immediate pit-sequence decision with teammate Oscar Piastri running directly ahead. Instead of waiting to pit behind Piastri—a situation known in Formula 1 as a "double stack" that costs teams critical seconds—Norris slowed approximately 50 kilometres per hour between turns 10 and 13 to create space to pit on the same lap.

The stewards ruled this manoeuvre breached Article 12.2 of the International Sporting Code, which governs conduct during caution periods. Norris questioned the decision immediately, saying it "made no sense," while team boss Andrea Stella suggested McLaren was being used to establish a precedent in an ambiguous rule area.

Those doubts have now translated into measurable data: the penalty cost McLaren exactly two constructors' points. In the current standings, McLaren sits on 17 points, eight clear of Alfa Romeo Sauber on nine. Without the penalty, that mathematical gap would likely be larger—a meaningful difference in a championship fight.

McLaren has invoked a "right of review"—a formal FIA process that differs from an appeal by allowing complete reconsideration of the stewards' original decision under Article 14.1.1 of the International Sporting Code. The team's submission argues that after reviewing precedents, sufficient evidence exists to warrant overturning the penalty.

"In Canada, we were surprised by the penalty and uncertain as to the rationale behind the decision," McLaren stated in its formal submission. "After this careful and extensive review, we believe enough evidence exists to submit a right of review to the FIA."

The mechanism is relatively rare and underscores McLaren's conviction that an error occurred. Other drivers have slowed to manage pit sequences during safety cars without penalty, raising questions about whether the stewards applied the rule consistently.

The FIA's review panel will now examine the case. If successful, McLaren recovers two championship points and Norris regains positions—a meaningful swing at this stage of the season. The decision will also likely clarify how stewards interpret pit-lane conduct during safety cars in future races, setting precedent for similar situations.