Piastri Wants Lawson Clash Addressed in Crucial Qatar FIA Meeting
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri is calling on Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, to revisit his controversial first-corner clash with Liam Lawson during the Las Vegas Grand Prix when drivers gather for their discussion forum at next weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix. The meeting — part of a planned review of driving guidelines and stewarding consistency — is expected to be an important moment in what has been a tense season regarding on-track conduct.
The Las Vegas race opened with chaos as the field charged toward Turn 1. In the scramble, Lawson moved across Piastri while attempting to avoid George Russell, who had locked up on the inside line. The Racing Bulls driver’s evasive move resulted in contact with Piastri’s McLaren. Despite the collision, the stewards quickly deemed the incident a “racing incident,” concluding that Lawson was reacting to a developing situation rather than initiating an avoidable collision. As a result, no penalty was issued.
Piastri, however, was visibly unimpressed by the decision. When speaking to the media after the race, he described Lawson’s move as “ambitious,” adding sarcastically that it was considered “apparently okay.” His comments made it clear that he believes the clash deserves more scrutiny and that he wants it used as an example in discussions with the FIA in Qatar. According to the Australian, the incident highlights ongoing frustrations among drivers regarding inconsistent rulings and the unclear boundaries of acceptable race-start aggression.
Reflecting on the moment, Piastri said he initially feared the collision had caused significant damage to his car, only to discover afterward that McLaren had escaped relatively unscathed. “It felt like wheel-to-wheel,” he explained. “Honestly, I was surprised I still had all four wheels attached. But in the end, I don’t think there was any major damage.” However, he admitted the contact disrupted his rhythm early in the race, forcing him to settle back into pace only after finding clean air.
The incident contributed to a difficult opening phase for Piastri, who was soon passed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Although he eventually managed to recover positions and showed strong pace once the race settled, he believed that key moments — especially those in the first stint — cost him valuable time and compromised his overall performance.
Despite the early struggles, Piastri fought back impressively, eventually finishing fifth on the road behind Kimi Antonelli. When Antonelli received a five-second penalty, Piastri was promoted to fourth place. But any sense of salvageable success quickly evaporated. Hours after the race ended, both Piastri and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris were disqualified entirely from the results. The FIA ruled that the skid blocks (plank) under both McLaren cars showed excessive wear, placing them outside the legal limits.
For Piastri, the disqualification — combined with the earlier clash — added up to a deeply disappointing night. His fourth-place finish was erased, and instead of leaving Las Vegas with crucial points, he heads to Qatar level with Max Verstappen in the standings and 24 points behind his teammate Norris, with only two rounds remaining.
Even so, Piastri maintained a measured, if frustrated, tone when discussing the stewarding of the Lawson clash. He emphasized that the purpose of raising the incident in Qatar is not to retroactively punish Lawson but to help clarify broader guidelines that have caused friction all year. With several drivers complaining about inconsistent stewarding standards, especially during first-lap battles, Piastri believes the Las Vegas moment offers a clear example of why further discussion is necessary.
He hinted that many drivers feel uncertain about how aggressively they can defend or attack — and when “avoiding action” becomes a justification for risky maneuvers. The FIA’s efforts to improve consistency over the winter do not appear to have settled the issue, making the Qatar meeting a significant opportunity for both sides to address the problems directly.
Overall, the Australian feels that the Las Vegas clash, combined with his eventual disqualification, illustrates how quickly a race — and a championship campaign — can unravel. Still, he remains determined to compete fiercely in the remaining rounds. For now, his focus is on ensuring the FIA listens to drivers’ concerns and works toward clearer, more predictable racing rules.
