Max Verstappen addressed the incidents during the British Grand Prix where he overtook Oscar Piastri behind the Safety Car and subsequently spun on the race restart. Verstappen clarified that these two moments were unrelated, attributing his spin solely to cold tyres rather than Piastri’s driving. The Dutch driver started the race on pole at Silverstone after Red Bull opted for a Monza-style rear wing to increase his speed, setting the stage for a challenging race day.
Unpredictable Weather Shapes the Race Dynamics
The team had anticipated a dry race, following a Saturday forecast predicting only a 20 percent chance of morning rain. However, the weather steadily worsened, forcing drivers to adapt quickly. Verstappen initially led on a damp circuit but was overtaken by McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris as conditions evolved. When heavy rain arrived, Verstappen switched to new intermediate tyres with a swift Red Bull pit stop, rejoining the race behind Piastri.
Unexpected Safety Car Moment Disrupts the Pack
The race intensified as the Safety Car prepared to leave the track. Piastri, leading behind the Safety Car, abruptly applied heavy braking immediately after the Safety Car lights went out. His speed dropped dramatically from 218 km/h to just 52 km/h, catching Verstappen completely off guard. Verstappen quickly passed Piastri but then struggled during the restart, attempting to keep pace with the McLaren driver.
Spin at Stowe Turn Highlights Tyre Challenges
Despite following Piastri closely, Verstappen spun at the Stowe corner on the restart, falling from second place down to tenth. He emphasized that his spin was not caused by Piastri’s earlier braking but stemmed from his RB21’s difficult setup combined with the tyres still being cold. Verstappen described the wet conditions as particularly tricky for managing the car’s balance, expressing frustration with the situation.
Verstappen Defends Piastri After Safety Car Incident
When questioned about whether Piastri’s sudden deceleration behind the Safety Car contributed to his difficulties, Verstappen firmly dismissed the idea. He stated,
“I don’t think so. I mean, I just tried to go on throttle, but the car has been really difficult already. Up until that point, we were just trying to find a nice rhythm, and it just caught me out on cold tyres.”
Saturday’s Weather Predictions Impacted Race Strategy
Red Bull’s decision to use the special rear wing and tyre strategy was influenced by the FIA’s weather forecast, which expected showers early on but a dry afternoon. Verstappen acknowledged the shift in conditions, saying,
“The weather forecast overnight just changed a lot. Because up until yesterday, the weather was getting better. Like it was just actually just raining a bit in the morning, and then it would be fine.”
He added,
“Last night, suddenly, yeah, it just shifted into more severe rain. That can happen.”
Race Outcome and Championship Standings Update
Although Verstappen started first and faced setbacks, dropping to tenth before recovering to finish fifth, the result was disappointing given his strong start. His Red Bull setup, tailored for earlier dry conditions, proved a disadvantage in the evolving weather. At the halfway point of the 2025 F1 season, Verstappen trails Piastri by 69 points in the championship standings, with both drivers continuing to battle intensely this year. Their ongoing rivalry, notably highlighted by the Safety Car incident, emphasizes the tense and unpredictable nature of the championship race.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. “Did charles leclerc adopt oscar piastri? that answer also changed a few weeks ago, and yes, i did. he’s one of my sons now.”
A. Did Charles legally adopt Oscar Piastri?
Q. Is Oscar Piastri a nice person?
A. This seems to be the first instance where Oscar Piastri, usually a calm and pleasant person, appeared upset after the race. I can’t fault him for his reaction. Around here, we might say he looked a bit “grumpy.”
Q. How did Lily Zneimer and Oscar Piastri meet?
A. They first crossed paths at a boarding school named Haileybury. During their second-to-last year, Piastri and Zneimer started dating. On the Eff Won podcast in 2023, Piastri mentioned they have been a couple for over four years.
