Piastri's fastest lap deletion protest from McLaren dismissed by stewards

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

SPIELBERG, Austria -- The stewards have ruled McLaren's protest regarding the qualifying results of the Austrian Grand Prix as inadmissible, nullifying the team's attempt to challenge the deletion of Oscar Piastri's fastest lap time in Q3.

Piastri had initially secured the third-fastest time, trailing only behind Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. However, the stewards deleted his lap for exceeding track limits at Turn Six, demoting him to seventh place on the grid. The decision left Piastri calling the situation "embarrassing."

After reviewing the case, the stewards quickly dismissed McLaren's protest following a meeting with team principal Andrea Stella on Saturday evening.

"The subject matter of the protest was a decision (deletion of a relevant lap time in accordance with Article 12.4.1 e) of the FIA International Sporting Code) taken by the stewards," a statement read. "A decision of the stewards is not open to protest (Article 12.3.3 ISC).

"Additionally, the protest does not meet several of the required criteria for the admissibility of a protest.

"The Stewards therefore reject the protest as it is inadmissible."

Further details from the stewards indicated McLaren's initial protest failed to meet procedural requirements, as it did not "specify any relevant regulations," "did not specify against whom the protest was lodged," and lacked clarity in identifying the team's concerns.

Despite the formal protest's failure, Stella voiced his dissatisfaction with the track limits enforcement in McLaren's post-qualifying press release.

"Oscar had his best lap in Q3 -- which was worth a P3 starting position -- deleted by what looks to be a questionable approach to enforcing track limits," Stella remarked. "Especially, in a place like Turn Six, in which track limits are enforced by the track configuration itself. It's a long race and we will do our best to finish higher than the current P7 spot on the grid."

As the team refocuses on race day, McLaren remains committed to overcoming the setback and securing a stronger finish.

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