McLaren team chief Andrea Stella blasted as "inappropriate" a controversial penalty handed to Lando Norris at the United States Grand Prix which could shatter his Formula 1 world title dream.
Race stewards penalized Norris and relegated him to fourth behind three-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull after the pair clashed and ran off-track in the closing laps in Austin, Texas.
A five-second penalty given to Norris, who finished third on track at the flag, pushed him back to fourth behind the series leader and dealt a blow in his bid to catch the Dutch driver in the title race.
Norris was adjudged to have gained an advantage by running off the track when he swept outside Verstappen on lap 53 of the 56-lap race.
The incident cost Norris valuable points and helped lift Verstappen to a 57-point lead in the title race with 354 to Norris's 297 with only five races left.
"The way the stewards interfered with a beautiful piece of motorsport was inappropriate because both cars went off track so both cars gained an advantage," said Stella.
"It's a shame because it cost us a podium, it cost us a race where we stayed patient after we were pushed off in the first lap, at the first corner."
He added: "This kind of decision cannot be appealed. For us the chapter is now closed and we move on to the next race."
Norris said the result was a "momentum killer" for his title challenge after being beaten by Verstappen for the first time in five races.
Norris added that he did not expect to win the race, with Ferrari showing impressive pace, but "the one guy I need to beat is Max and that's the guy I didn't beat today."
Verstappen said he had endured a difficult race without the pace in his car to attack. "It was a tough battle and I tried everything to keep him behind me. But it was fun, too," he added.
The race was won by Charles Leclerc who led home Carlos Sainz in a Ferrari one-two.
AGENCIES
Lando Norris' runs off track during one of his battles with Max Verstappen, left. REUTERS
