Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri Hit with Additional Punishments After São Paulo Grand Prix Chaos
The aftermath of the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix has proven costly for Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri, with both drivers slapped with penalty points on their super licences following a chaotic and incident-filled race at Interlagos.
Hamilton’s weekend in Brazil went from bad to worse after an early collision effectively ended his chances of securing a decent result. The seven-time world champion endured multiple setbacks during Sunday’s race, starting with contact from Carlos Sainz on the opening lap that caused initial damage to his Ferrari SF-25. Moments later, Hamilton collided with Franco Colapinto’s Alpine at high speed, further damaging his front wing and forcing an unscheduled pit stop. Despite his best efforts to recover, the extent of the damage proved too severe, and he was eventually forced to retire from the race.
Following post-race investigations, FIA stewards ruled that Hamilton was “predominantly to blame” for the incident with Colapinto, handing him a five-second time penalty during the race. However, the punishment didn’t end there. The stewards also issued Hamilton a single penalty point on his super licence — his third in the past 12 months. While the additional point does not place him in immediate danger of a race ban, it adds to a growing tally that could become a concern if more incidents follow later in the season.
Meanwhile, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri also found himself in hot water after a dramatic tangle with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli during a safety car restart. The Australian clipped Antonelli’s car at Turn 1, sending the young Italian into the path of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The collision left Leclerc’s car with terminal damage, forcing him to retire from what had looked like a promising race start.
The stewards determined that Piastri was at fault for causing the multi-car collision and imposed a 10-second time penalty, which he served during a routine pit stop. However, the consequences extended beyond just lost time. The Australian was also handed two penalty points on his super licence, bringing his total to six within the last 12 months. With the FIA’s threshold for an automatic race ban set at 12 points in a rolling year, Piastri is now officially halfway to a suspension — a situation that will require greater caution from the young driver in the upcoming rounds.
For McLaren, the incident was particularly frustrating as it further dented Piastri’s hopes in the championship battle. His teammate, Lando Norris, extended his lead with another strong performance in Brazil, while Piastri’s costly misjudgment not only ruined Leclerc’s race but also added to his own woes in an already tense title fight.
Adding to the disciplinary flurry at Interlagos, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda also fell foul of the stewards. The Japanese driver was judged responsible for a clash with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll midway through the race, after tipping the Canadian into a spin. Tsunoda received a 10-second penalty and two additional points on his super licence, raising his total to seven. Like Piastri, he now edges dangerously closer to the dreaded 12-point threshold that would trigger an automatic one-race suspension.
Under FIA regulations, penalty points remain active for 12 months from the date they are incurred. If a driver accumulates 12 within that period, they are banned from participating in the next Grand Prix. The rule is designed to discourage reckless or repeat offending and promote cleaner, safer racing across the grid.
The São Paulo Grand Prix proved to be one of the most incident-heavy races of the season, with multiple collisions, retirements, and steward investigations dominating the post-race conversation. For Hamilton, Piastri, and Tsunoda, the weekend served as a costly reminder that one moment of misjudgment can have lingering consequences — both on track and off it — as the championship heads toward its decisive final stretch.
