Egg on their face: F1 expert pundit, endorsed by McLaren, proves team wrong

In July, McLaren shared a Sky Sports social media video and stressed: "Thorough analysis from former F1 test driver and expert pundit Anthony Davidson on not just Lando and Max’s incident, but ones that have gone before…". It was a remarkable post on social media, as the team tried to provoke Red Bull. But they have now been left with egg on their faces as the same 'expert pundit' proved them wrong.

Thorough analysis from former F1 test driver and expert pundit Anthony Davidson on not just Lando and Max’s incident, but ones that have gone before… #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/MoqNe9jEzF

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) July 2, 2024

How Davidson proved McLaren wrong after the United States Grand Prix

Norris and Verstappen engaged in a multi-lap duel in the closing stages of the United States Grand Prix. On lap 52, Norris actually overtook Verstappen but did so off the circuit. McLaren didn't feel the need to give the place back to Verstappen, but the stewards handed out a penalty. Davidson explained why.

"At this stage, what you're looking for as the overtaker, the aggressor in this situation, is ‘Are you in front of the car that you're racing against?’ [Lando was] ahead before the corner really properly started. The rule says you need a significant part of your car ahead of the car you're fighting when you're the overtaker. Especially by the time you get to the apex, which is the middle of the corner. He's not," Davidson said.

"It's clear to see he's not ahead by the time he gets to the apex. When he starts turning into the corner, initially [Norris] is [ahead]. A tiny bit of the car, he is. But at the key point in the corner, [Norris is] not [ahead]. So it shifts to the car that's in the defensive position. [Verstappen] can then actually dictate where you put the car.

"It's quite cheeky at that stage to try and drive around the outside of somebody expecting them, sometimes it happens, to give you a nice bit of room on the outside so you can drive around the outside of them. It can happen. It's not going to happen with Max Verstappen, is it? Let's be honest. So pushed off the track? You could argue you were, but you weren't ahead. That's how the stewards will look at this situation," Davidson added.

Were the stewards consistent during the United States Grand Prix?

McLaren argued that Verstappen pushed Norris off the track, but Davidson highlighted how the Dutchman picked up a warning for this and would've been punished if he had used up all of his track limit strikes. Earlier in the race, George Russell got penalised for pushing Valtteri Bottas off the track. Mercedes team boss questioned the stewards actions following Norris' penalty. Davidson explained why this decision was also correct.

"Bottas was being overtaken. Russell was thundering down the inside. Bottas knows he's there and gives him room. He's expecting to have room on the outside and he doesn't get it. George has steamed in and that is a different situation. Bottas is being forced off the track. George is the overtaker, he is the aggressor. The overtake was done in that way," Davidson concluded.