Damon Hill issues three-word reaction as McLaren lodge right of review for Lando Norris penalty

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McLaren have lodged a right of review to the FIA after Lando Norris was given a five-second penalty in the closing stages of the United States Grand Prix.

The British driver was battling for third place against his title rival Max Verstappen, in a hard-fought duel at Circuit of the Americas.

Norris and the Red Bull driver didn’t have the pace to keep up with the Ferraris over the race and were caught up in their own battle.

Both drivers ran off the track at Turn 12, the best place for passing on the circuit at the end of the back straight.

Norris was penalised for overtaking Verstappen off the circuit with just four laps to go, as he attacked the championship leader.

McLaren will have their protest heard on Friday ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix at 2:30 local time. They will have to present “significant, relevant, and new” evidence to the panel.

1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has commented on McLaren’s right of review on his Instagram account.

What Damon Hill wrote on his Instagram about McLaren’s right of review

The right of review could have direct implications on the championship battle, as both Norris and Verstappen were involved in the incident.

If the review is successful, it would allow to incident to be analysed once more as part of a second phase, and the penalty may be overturned.

READ MORE: Lando Norris ‘underestimated’ Max Verstappen in costly way in US Grand Prix for Jolyon Palmer

McLaren will need to present evidence to the stewards that wasn’t available at the time when the original decision was made.

If the right to review were successful and the penalty eventually overturned, it would give Norris’ title hopes a small lift. Norris has also been given advice by David Coulthard on how to defend in wheel-to-wheel combat.

Verstappen was classified third in the race, with Norris in fourth place, after failing to create a five-second gap over his rival before the chequered flag.

Hill wrote on an Instagram story that McLaren lodging a right of review ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix ‘should be interesting!’

Right of reviews rarely lead to penalties being overturned

Right of reviews aren’t overly common in Formula 1. Ferrari appealed to the FIA after Carlos Sainz was given a penalty at the Australian Grand Prix last season, for colliding with Fernando Alonso.

The Italian team’s appeal was rejected, and they also failed to successfully exercise their right of review in 2019 after Sebastian Vettel was given a five-second penalty at the Canadian Grand Prix.

It was highly controversial after the German driver lost the lead of the race after he was judged to have rejoined the track unsafely ahead Lewis Hamilton.

McLaren will have to present a lot of convincing evidence to the panel in Mexico for the incident to be looked at again.