What is a Right to Review in Formula 1 and why are McLaren using it?

McLaren is invoking Article 14.1.1 of the FIA International Sporting Code. It states: "If a significant and relevant new element is discovered which was unavailable to the parties seeking the review at the time of the decision concerned, the stewards who have given a ruling or, failing this, those designated by the FIA, may decide to re-examine their decision following a petition for review".

So there will only be a hearing if it has first been decided by the stewards that the evidence presented is new and relevant. Exactly what that is in McLaren's case will no doubt become clear on Friday - when the first act of the hearing is via video call. However, it is easy to imagine that it will be new camera footage from Verstappen's car.

McLaren case resembles Verstappen-Hamilton incident

During the live broadcast of the Grand Prix, the camera on Verstappen's car was facing backwards at the key moment. And with that, there seems to be a comparison to an earlier Right to Review protest, by Mercedes in 2021. Back then, the German team argued that Verstappen had not fought Lewis Hamilton according to the rules during the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Then, too, Verstappen's camera was facing backwards and only after the race and in parc fermé could images be downloaded that showed a different angle of the incident. According to Mercedes, this provided new and relevant evidence, asking the stewards to re-examine Verstappen. Incidentally, this request was rejected, although the stewards indicated it was new evidence. They also felt that these images did not shed new light on the case.

As with Mercedes then, the US images of Verstappen were downloaded from the car only after the Grand Prix. It is easy to imagine that McLaren applied for the Right to Review with these images in hand.

This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton