FIA Confirms No Adjustments to Driving Standards as Oscar Piastri’s Brazil Penalty Resurfaces at Qatar GP
In the build-up to the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, the FIA has formally confirmed that no amendments will be made to Formula 1’s Driving Standards Guidelines (DSGs) for the remaining two rounds of the championship. This announcement comes after a detailed and highly anticipated annual meeting between F1 drivers and the governing body—a meeting that included a review of several contentious on-track incidents from the season, most notably Oscar Piastri’s 10-second penalty in Brazil.
The 2025 season has already delivered one of the most dramatic title fights of the modern era. Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen have been locked in a tense three-way battle, with Norris currently leading Piastri and Verstappen by 24 points. With 58 points still up for grabs across Qatar and the Abu Dhabi finale, every decisive moment—and every stewarding call—carries enormous weight.
A Season of Scrutiny Leads into Qatar
Ahead of the penultimate round at the Lusail International Circuit, the FIA held its customary season-end driving standards review. This session allows drivers to raise concerns or suggest revisions to the rules that dictate racing conduct—from overtaking etiquette to responsibility in wheel-to-wheel combat.
Among the central topics debated was Piastri’s penalty in São Paulo, an incident that has continued to generate discussion and disagreement in the paddock.
The Brazil Incident Revisited
During a chaotic safety-car restart at Interlagos, Piastri found himself in a tight three-wide battle with Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc heading into Turn 1. Under braking, the McLaren driver locked up slightly, brushing the inside of Antonelli’s Mercedes. The contact pushed Antonelli into Leclerc, ultimately ending the Ferrari driver’s race on the spot.
Although Leclerc was the unfortunate victim, he surprised many by defending Piastri immediately after the race. He argued that the 10-second penalty felt excessive considering the tight nature of the moment, the narrowing of the corner, and Antonelli’s own positioning. Leclerc even suggested that the Italian rookie shared some responsibility for how the incident unfolded.
Despite these viewpoints, the stewards ruled that Piastri violated the guidelines in place—specifically those regarding driver responsibility when entering a corner three-abreast. Under the current Driving Standards Guidelines, the penalty was deemed correct.
This dispute made Piastri’s moment in Brazil one of the headline topics during the Qatar meeting.
FIA’s Firm Stand: No Changes for 2025 Final Rounds
After what the FIA described as a “frank, open, and collegial” discussion, the governing body issued a statement confirming that while driver input was valuable, no immediate rule adjustments would be implemented.
“The discussion was frank, open and conducted in a very collegial atmosphere, which was greatly appreciated by the stewards. The points raised will inform any future refinements to the DSGs, in consultation with the GPDA and the FIA Drivers’ Commission,”
the statement read.“No changes will be made for the final two grands prix of the 2025 season.”
This means all remaining stewarding decisions in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will continue to be governed by the exact same rulebook that has been in place since the start of the year.
Other Incidents Under Review
Piastri’s penalty was not the only flashpoint discussed during the meeting. In total, five separate incidents from recent races were reviewed by the drivers and the FIA.
One of the most prominent was the controversial Mexican Grand Prix first-lap episode involving Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. Both drivers ran wide at Turn 1 and were seen by several in the paddock to have gained a lasting advantage, yet neither was penalised. The stewards later defended their decision by citing the traditionally more lenient approach toward Lap 1 incidents, a justification that many drivers still disputed in Qatar.
Additionally, the Monza clash between Carlos Sainz and Ollie Bearman was revisited, further emphasizing the need for consistent decision-making, particularly as young drivers such as Bearman and Antonelli integrate into high-pressure environments on track.
Looking Ahead to the Season Finale
The FIA’s choice to maintain the current guidelines sets the stage for a high-stakes conclusion to the season. With the title still undecided and tensions rising among the front-runners, every defensive move, every overtake, and every stewarding call will now be made under intense scrutiny.
Drivers may push for revisions for the 2026 season, but for now, the FIA has made its stance clear: the rules remain unchanged, and the championship will be settled under the same standards with which it began.
