McLaren’s appeal to overturn a five-second penalty handed to Lando Norris at the United States Grand Prix has been rejected by the FIA.

The governing body did not agree with McLaren’s claim that Norris was ahead at the apex before Verstappen forced him off track.

Norris finished ahead of Verstappen but he was dropped back to fourth, with Verstappen reinstated to third as a result of the penalty.

The costly blow means that Norris heads into the Mexico Grand Prix 57 points behind his title rival.

The stewards said: “In relation to relevance, McLaren appears to submit that the Stewards finding that “Car 4 had overtaken Car 1 before the apex (and therefore that Car 1 was the overtaking car) and that this asserted error is itself, a new element. This is unsustainable.”

McLaren added that they ‘disagree’ with the judgment but ‘acknowledged’ the decision and ‘thanked’ the FIA for their speedy response.