Oscar Piastri received a 10-second time penalty during the Australian Grand Prix after stewards determined he braked excessively during a Safety Car restart on Lap 22. This move was ruled as forcing Max Verstappen to take evasive action, under Article 55.15 of the FIA Sporting Regulations, which bans erratic or dangerous driving during Safety Car periods. The penalty pushed Piastri behind his McLaren teammate Lando Norris during the final pit stops, handing Norris his first home Grand Prix victory and demoting Piastri to second place.
Mixed reactions from former drivers and experts
While Piastri, McLaren, and others within the Formula 1 paddock viewed the penalty as too severe, opinions from former drivers were divided. Mick Schumacher openly criticized Piastri’s driving, describing the move as excessively aggressive. Speaking on Sky Deutschland, Schumacher stated the penalty was justified, insisting,
“I don’t want to say dirty, but it was dirty in any case.”
He explained that Piastri seemed eager to demonstrate he could challenge Verstappen but overstepped in doing so.
Earlier, former world champion Jacques Villeneuve had also criticized Piastri for his role in the Canadian Grand Prix collision with Norris, calling the young Australian “nasty.”
Conversely, other ex-F1 professionals took a more balanced approach. David Coulthard, on Channel 4, acknowledged the complexities leaders face during Safety Car restarts, noting the fine margin between controlling pace and avoiding risky moves. He elaborated,
“When you’re behind the safety car with the lights off, you have to stay within 10 car lengths of that safety car, keeping the field going with you.”
Coulthard added that Piastri’s acceleration and sudden braking caught Verstappen off guard, leading stewards to deem the behavior erratic. Yet, Coulthard argued,
“Do I think the penalty fits the crime? No. … He hasn’t forced anyone off the road, seeing it from Max’s point of view, he hasn’t had to lock up, he hasn’t had to take massive avoiding action, I’m forever going to think that’s harsh until someone convinces me otherwise.”
Anthony Davidson also analyzed the incident, highlighting the unusual timing of the Safety Car lights going out, which contributed to the abrupt braking. He said,
“This is the critical moment… Safety Car disappears momentarily, Verstappen thinks ‘I get a bit of heat in the rear tyres’ at this point, and then out of nowhere, the McLaren starts to come at you.”
Davidson agreed the maneuver was somewhat erratic but saw validity in the stewards’ decision.
Martin Brundle, meanwhile, further balanced the debate during Sky Sports commentary, suggesting there could be room for leniency. He remarked,
“They need mitigating circumstances to drop that [penalty] to five seconds, or indeed no penalty at all.”
Discussing Piastri’s pace on the restart, Brundle added,
“He was almost stationary, wasn’t he? I hear what Zak [Brown] is saying, Max did floor it down the outside to emphasise, but that was extremely slow from Oscar.”
Piastri’s frustration and stance following the penalty
Oscar Piastri himself showed clear frustration about the penalty, expressing his emotions both over team radio and in post-race interviews. On the radio, he jokingly warned,
“I think I’ll get myself banned for the year if I say anything here.”
Later, speaking to Sky Sports, Piastri questioned the rules, stating,
“Apparently you can’t brake behind the Safety Car anymore. I did it for five laps before.”
He insisted he did not perceive his action as wrong:
“I don’t really understand. I need to look back and see. I really don’t think I did anything different or anything wrong.”
Despite the setback, Piastri remains the championship leader, standing eight points ahead of Norris in the Drivers’ Standings as the season progresses.
Implications of the penalty for Piastri and McLaren
This penalty represents a significant moment in Piastri’s season, as it not only affects his immediate race results but also intensifies the rivalry within McLaren and the overall championship battle. The ruling has sparked debate about the interpretation of regulations during Safety Car periods and how stewards assess driving behavior under pressure. The divided opinions among experienced former drivers illustrate the tension between enforcing safety and preserving competitive racing.
For McLaren, the incident resulted in a landmark victory for Lando Norris on home soil but also highlighted internal challenges. Going forward, how Piastri and his team adjust to such regulatory scrutiny could shape the remainder of his championship campaign.
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. Has Charles adopted Oscar Piastri?
Q. How did Lily Zneimer and Oscar Piastri meet?
A. They first crossed paths at a boarding school named Haileybury. There, he met Zneimer, and they started dating in their second-to-last year. Piastri mentioned on the Eff Won podcast in 2023 that they’ve been a couple for over four years now.
Q. Is Oscar Piastri actually Chinese?
A. After the Qualifying press conference on Saturday, Piastri mentioned he is 1/16th Chinese. He took a moment to thank fans at the Shanghai International Circuit. Smiling, the three-time race winner confirmed, “It’s not a joke, I do have Chinese heritage!”
Q. How much is Oscar Piastri paid?
A. Oscar Piastri agreed to a three-year deal with McLaren and received an $81 signing bonus. In 2025, his base salary will be $6,000,000, which is also his cap hit.
