Stewards Explain 10s Penalty for Piastri at Brazil GP
Oscar Piastri was handed a 10-second penalty at the Brazil GP for causing a collision involving Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc, forcing Leclerc's retirement. Stewards deemed Piastri "wholly responsible" for failing to establish proper overlap during an overtake. The penalty impacted his championship standing, leaving him 24 points behind teammate Lando Norris ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Oscar Piastri received a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after stewards deemed him "wholly responsible" for a Turn 1 incident involving Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc. The collision forced Leclerc to retire, significantly impacting his race.
Why it matters:
Piastri's penalty and subsequent loss of championship ground highlight the critical importance of clean racing, especially during Safety Car restarts. For a driver battling at the sharp end of the grid, even minor incidents can have major implications for championship standings and team morale, as McLaren aims to solidify its position against rivals.
The details:
- Incident Summary: On Lap 6, following a Safety Car restart, Piastri went three-wide into Turn 1 with Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc. Piastri made contact with Antonelli, who was then punted into Leclerc's Ferrari, forcing Leclerc's retirement.
- Stewards' Ruling: The stewards concluded that Piastri did not establish the required overlap with Antonelli prior to and at the apex, as defined by the Driving Standard Guidelines for overtaking on the inside of a corner.
- Despite Piastri locking his brakes in an attempt to avoid contact, he was unable to do so, making him "wholly responsible for the collision."
- Penalties: Piastri was handed a 10-second time penalty, which he served during his pit stop, and two further penalty points, bringing his total to eight.
- Race Outcome: After serving the penalty, Piastri finished fifth in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The big picture:
This incident adds to a challenging period for Piastri, who hasn't achieved a podium finish since the Italian Grand Prix in September. The 10 points collected at Interlagos mean he now trails teammate Lando Norris by 24 points in the championship standings, with Max Verstappen a further 25 points behind. Consistency and avoiding errors will be crucial for Piastri as the season nears its end.
What's next:
The Formula 1 season continues in two weeks with the highly anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix. Piastri will be looking to bounce back and secure a strong result to regain momentum in the championship battle and close the gap to his teammate.