Inevitably this forced McLaren off the track as well, but Norris drove past his title rival from the round. Overtaking off the track is prohibited, but the legitimacy of Verstappen’s defensive tactics has been widely questioned.

In theory, he could have returned the spot and then resumed his attack and avoided a sanction. But Norris says he had used up his tire life at the time and didn’t feel he had done anything wrong.

In fact, he agreed with his team over the radio that he was “at the front” and therefore Verstappen should be treated as the overtaking car. This formed part of McLaren’s review request at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The very fact that the incident is still at the top of the headlines a week later shows how divisive it has been. F1 drivers held an unusually long briefing in Mexico to discuss whether they needed to make any changes to their rules of engagement.

Derek Warwick ‘affected’ by reaction to Lando Norris penalty for Max Verstappen incident

One of the stewards on the panel in Austin was Derek Warwick. The Brit competed in 162 Grands Prix between 1981 and 1993, scoring four podiums and 71 points.

The US Grand Prix officials reconvened on Friday night to hear McLaren’s case for a review. They rejected it on the grounds that they did not provide new and convincing evidence.

Journalist Andre Venema spoke from the media center of the formule1.nl YouTube channel and shared what Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert had told him about Warwick. The 70-year-old has apparently struggled with the backlash after punishing Norris.

“Martin Brundle said yesterday with Johnny Herbert that Derek Warwick was quite influenced by everything that was written and said after the Grand Prix in America,” revealed Venema.

How McLaren scored a hidden victory in the review request

Toto Wolff issued perhaps the most damning rebuke of the stewards last weekend. Addressed George Russell over the radio at checkered, Wolff accused trustees of ‘biased decision-making’.

He was referring to the start of the race, when Verstappen tried to pass Norris on the inside, a move that resulted in both retiring. But he felt the lap 52 crash highlighted a lack of consistency in their enforcement of the rules.

Russell had been penalized earlier in the race for forcing Valtteri Bottas off at the same corner. But with Verstappen in the ‘Russell role’ the driver was penalized on the outside.

Zak Brown will welcome the ongoing discourse. McLaren took a “slight win” over Red Bull although their challenge failed, as the racing rules which Verstappen has ably exploited – like many great champions – could now be changed.

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