McLaren's Andrea Stella criticized Formula One stewards on Sunday for what he said was an "inappropriate" U.S. Grand Prix penalty that seriously dented Lando Norris's title hopes.

Lando Norris was handed a five-second penalty on the final lap of the US Grand Prix which cost the McLaren driver a podium in Austin. Norris, who started on pole position, dropped down to fourth after the start where F1 title rival Max Verstappen blocked his path to turn one and eventual race winner Charles Leclerc took the lead.

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 world title dream.

Charles Leclerc scored a commanding victory Sunday in the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas for his third F1 victory of the season.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished second, 3.882 seconds behind Verstappen, after passing Norris on the 19th and last lap at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.