Stella perplexed by Norris penalty and lack of proportion

DOHA : McLaren principal Andrea Stella called for a sense of proportion after Lando Norris collected one of the harshest penalties in the rule book for ignoring yellow flags at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Briton's 10-second stop-and-go penalty, for failing to slow when the flags were waved in response to debris on the track, cost crucial points in the championship battle with Ferrari.

The penalty, effectively costing more than 30 seconds all told, dropped Norris from second overall down to the rear of the field before the Briton then fought back to 10th with the fastest lap.

Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion and a former McLaren driver, told Sky Sports television viewers that the penalty seemed "unbelievably extreme".

Stella told reporters that the data confirmed Norris had not slowed, effectively staying flat out, but the yellow flags were inconsistent - deployed and then removed despite the track situation staying the same.

"The lack of any specificity and proportion is very concerning," he said.

"And it's also a factor that could have a decisive impact on the championship quest.

"It's definitely material that the FIA should consider very seriously if we want fairness to be part of going racing in Formula One."

Stella said he trusted the FIA's decision making but expected the body to review its operations and application of the penalty, even if it was too late to do anything about the outcome of the race.

"There is certainly, in our opinion, material for improvement," he added, without commenting on a recent change of race director.

McLaren, who last won the constructors' title in 1998 and before either of their current drivers were born, are 21 points clear of Ferrari with 44 still to be won in Abu Dhabi next