FIA Issues Penalty to Oscar Piastri After Safety Car Incident with Verstappen at British GP
In a key decision that could shake up the results of the 2025 British Grand Prix, the FIA has officially penalized McLaren’s Oscar Piastri with a 10-second time penalty following a contentious safety car incident involving Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The drama unfolded during the second safety car restart at Silverstone, when Piastri, running inside the top five, suddenly slowed while still under the control of the safety car. Verstappen, who was following closely behind, had to take evasive action, resulting in confusion and momentary disruption further down the field.
After reviewing telemetry data and on-board footage, the FIA stewards ruled that Piastri’s maneuver constituted “erratic driving under safety car conditions,” which goes against Article 55.8 of the FIA Sporting Regulations. The rule stipulates that drivers must maintain a consistent pace and avoid sudden changes in speed that could endanger others or disrupt the flow of the race.
“The driver of Car 81 (Oscar Piastri) was found to have decelerated unnecessarily in a manner that caused a risk to the following car,” the stewards’ report stated. “This behavior is deemed unacceptable under safety car conditions and has therefore resulted in a 10-second time penalty.”
The penalty drops Piastri from a potential podium or top-five finish down the order, a bitter blow to McLaren at their home Grand Prix. Team Principal Andrea Stella voiced disappointment with the ruling but accepted the stewards’ verdict, stating:
“We’ll review the data, but we respect the FIA’s decision. It’s unfortunate, especially at Silverstone, where Oscar was showing great pace.”
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, avoided any direct consequences from the incident but didn’t hide his displeasure.
“I had to brake harder than I should have under the safety car. It could’ve ended badly. You don’t expect that at this level,” Verstappen commented after the race.
The verdict adds yet another layer of complexity to what has already been a fiercely competitive 2025 F1 season. With every point counting in the tight midfield and championship battles, Piastri’s penalty could prove costly in the long run for both driver and team.
More updates are expected as teams analyze the implications of the incident and prepare for the next round of the championship.
