FIA Disqualification British GP result due to …read more
The FIA has issued a significant penalty to McLaren driver Oscar Piastri following a controversial safety car incident involving Max Verstappen during the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The decision came after an unexpected sequence of events during the second safety car restart, which caused a chain reaction leading to a costly mistake for the reigning world champion.
The incident unfolded when Piastri, running near the front, suddenly decelerated under the safety car just moments before the restart. This unexpected move caught Red Bull’s Max Verstappen off guard. Believing that Piastri was about to accelerate and resume racing, Verstappen hit the throttle early, only to realize too late that the McLaren had not actually committed to the restart. This misjudgment caused Verstappen to lose control of his car, resulting in a dramatic spin that sent him tumbling down the order to 11th place.
Stewards launched an immediate investigation into the restart incident and determined that Piastri’s abrupt slowing contributed directly to Verstappen’s spin and subsequent loss of positions. The FIA concluded that the McLaren driver had breached restart protocol and deemed his actions as having created an unsafe situation for others on the track. Consequently, Piastri was handed a 10-second time penalty — a punishment that could severely affect his race outcome.
The decision has sparked debate within the McLaren garage. Team CEO Zak Brown addressed the situation during a live interview with Sky Sports, explaining that the team is currently evaluating the possibility of appealing the ruling. “We’re debating that here on the pit wall,” Brown said. “It was a bit of a late call on the safety car coming in. The leader controls the restart, and while it looked dramatic on TV, our telemetry doesn’t show anything that alarming.”
Brown also noted that Verstappen’s reaction contributed to the confusion. “You had Max accelerating because he thought Oscar was about to go. It was a combination of both — a misunderstanding between two front-runners in a high-pressure moment.”
If the penalty is upheld, Piastri’s chances of winning the British Grand Prix may be seriously compromised. To retain a possible victory, the Australian driver must build a gap of at least 10 seconds over his nearest competitors — including team-mate Lando Norris. If he fails to do so, he may be demoted to second place or even further down the podium standings depending on the race’s final laps.
The situation has added drama to an already unpredictable British Grand Prix weekend, stirring tension among teams and raising questions over safety car restart procedures. With the stewards standing firm on their decision for now, all eyes are on McLaren’s next move — whether they will formally appeal or accept the penalty and shift their strategy accordingly for the remainder of the race.
