McLaren F1 protest verdict issued over…read more
McLaren F1 driver Oscar Piastri has spoken out following the controversial penalty he received at the British Grand Prix, indicating that he and the team are unlikely to formally challenge the decision.
The 24-year-old Australian stunned fans when he briefly took the lead from reigning world champion Max Verstappen on lap eight at the historic Silverstone circuit. However, the race soon took a chaotic turn as poor weather and multiple safety car deployments disrupted the flow of the event.
The first safety car was called due to worsening weather conditions, making visibility and grip extremely difficult. The second was prompted by a collision between Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli on lap 18. Upon the restart on lap 21, the safety car lights were turned off, signaling the drivers to prepare for racing conditions. But Piastri unexpectedly slowed down, braking sharply from 218 kph to just 52 kph. This forced Verstappen behind him to take sudden evasive action, which sent a ripple effect of confusion through the rest of the field.
Verstappen expressed his frustration over the radio, exclaiming, “Woah mate, ****, he just suddenly again slows down,” as he narrowly avoided contact. Stewards later reviewed the incident and issued Piastri a 10-second time penalty, along with two penalty points on his license. The decision effectively ended his hopes of clinching a win at Silverstone, despite a strong performance throughout the race.
Visibly upset, Piastri was seen dejected in the cooldown room, on the podium, and during the post-race media commitments. When asked during the FIA press conference whether he or McLaren would appeal the penalty, his response was uncertain but revealed his frustration.
“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s worth doing at the moment. I’m not sure it’s going to be very constructive in all honesty,” he said. “I don’t know. But I don’t really care at the moment.”
Reflecting on the emotional impact of the penalty and the result, Piastri admitted that the outcome was difficult to process. “It obviously hurts at the moment. It’s a different hurt though because I know I deserved a lot more than what I got today. I felt like I drove a really strong race,” he explained.
Despite his disappointment, Piastri’s performance was widely praised, especially considering how competitive he looked throughout the race. He shared the podium with his McLaren teammate and home crowd favorite Lando Norris, as well as Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, who secured his first podium finish.
In closing, Piastri expressed the core of his frustration: “Ultimately, when you don’t get the result you think you deserve, it hurts — especially when it’s not in your control.” Though a formal protest may not be on the cards, the incident has certainly left a bitter taste for both the driver and his team.
