McLaren team boss admits risk of Norris race ban now
Jul.9 - Andreas Seidl admits there is a "fundamental risk" that McLaren could lose its most competitive driver for a race.
In Austria, a penalty for the on-form Lando Norris moved the British driver dangerously close to the maximum 12 super licence penalty points.
Once his tally reaches 12, a race ban is mandatory.
"It is not reassuring. There is a fundamental risk," team boss Seidl told RTL.
However, as beating Ferrari to third place in the constructors' championship is the team's primary goal for 2021, Seidl said Norris should keep on pushing for "maximum performance" without being "too crazy".
Looking forward, Seidl said the FIA should re-consider the current license points system.
"It cannot be in the spirit of Formula 1 that a driver has to sit out a race for the kind of incident we saw in Spielberg," he insisted.
Seidl agrees that license points penalties are "right and important" but only when it comes to "drivers doing dangerous things".
He predicts that the matter will be discussed behind the scenes at Silverstone next weekend.
"Hopefully we will then find another solution for the future," said the German.
As for who would replace Norris in the event of a ban, Seidl revealed: "We have an agreement with Mercedes regarding the reserve drivers."
He said the "first choice" would be former McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
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Ffs , yes except by SS some of those points will be off his licence, so ACTUALLY hes not one mistake away from a ban at the next race .
C'mon Shrop', look at it from the journos' POV. Gotta' bait those clicks. "Young Lion Faces Suspension" gets clicks. Sensationalism sells, facts are boring.
Oh i agree there, but they've sensationally pissed me off with there sensationalism, but some thickos might actually believe the headline grrr and lol for f1 to keep him happy
Another big risk is having the other drive not getting the point needed helping the team manufacturer position.
Regretfully, the entire F1 system is built around keeping rising stars down and prevent them from challenging the old guard.
One only has to recall how unwelcoming the establishment AND UNTOLD FANS were towards MAX (then known as MAD MAX) in his earlier days as one of the biggest rising stars of all times.
Lando being exceptional, and young, and faster than hangers on, let’s hand him double penalties (time and points), that’ll show him!!!
I am reminded of President Obama’s comment when some of Max’s moves were outlawed: ‘’You know that you are really good when they change the rules to prevent you from doing what you do’’.