McLaren exercise right of review over Norris’ penalty in Canada for ‘unsportsmanlike behaviour’

McLaren have confirmed that they have lodged a petition for a "right of review" over the stewards’ decision to give Lando Norris a time penalty for what the panel described as “unsportsmanlike behaviour” during the Canadian Grand Prix.

After George Russell triggered a Safety Car by crashing into the wall and littering debris on the track, McLaren instructed both Oscar Piastri and Norris to pit for fresh tyres, with the latter accused of driving deliberately slowly in order to create enough of a gap for a ‘double-stack’.

EXPLAINED: ‘Unsportsmanlike behaviour’? Why Lando Norris was handed a 5-second penalty in Montreal

Norris was subsequently given a five-second time penalty for those actions and wound up outside the points-paying positions in 13th, with team mate Piastri finishing two places ahead of him.

However, shortly after qualifying for this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, in which Norris placed fourth, McLaren issued a statement announcing their right of review plans – something seen earlier this season with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz – and why they had come to the decision.

2023 Canadian Grand Prix: Russell hits the wall to trigger Safety Car in Montreal

“We can confirm that the McLaren Formula 1 Team has lodged a petition for a ‘right of review’ regarding to Article 14.1.1 of the of the FIA International Sporting Code, on the Stewards’ decision to impose a 5-second penalty on Lando Norris for ‘unsportsmanlike behaviour’ under the Safety Car at the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix,” read the statement.

“We are very supportive of the FIA and the Stewards, and we trust them while they carry out what is a difficult job. We appreciate Stewards need to make decisions in a short timeframe, analyzing complex scenarios and often with partial information and multiple elements to consider.

“In Canada, we were surprised by the penalty and uncertain as to the rationale behind the decision. We spoke to the Stewards immediately after the race to help understand the reasoning for the penalty.

“The FIA’s regulatory framework has tools and processes which allow them and the sport to deal with the operational complexity of Formula 1, especially for decisions which need to be made during the race.

2023 Canadian Grand Prix: Norris handed five second penalty for Safety Car offence

“The ‘right of review’ is one of those processes which showcases the strength of the institution in allowing decisions to be reviewed, should that be in the best interest of the sport and this is something McLaren fully embraces and supports.

“Given this provision, the team took the initial explanation onboard and decided to review the case in a calm and considered manner, performing comprehensive due diligence, which included looking at the precedents.

“After this careful and extensive review, we believe enough evidence exists to a submit a ‘right to review’ to the FIA, which we have done so.

“We will now continue to work with the FIA closely, in the same constructive and collaborative manner in which we normally do, and will accept the outcome of their deliberations and decision.”