Oscar Piastri frustrated after controversial British GP second place
Oscar Piastri Finishes Second After Controversial Penalty at British Grand Prix
SILVERSTONE, England — McLaren's Oscar Piastri endured a bittersweet Sunday at the British Grand Prix, finishing in second place at Silverstone after a chaotic race that left the young Australian visibly frustrated. Despite a strong performance that saw him lead for much of the race, a controversial penalty ultimately cost him the win and allowed teammate Lando Norris to take the victory.
Reflecting on the outcome, Piastri admitted, "When you don't get the result you think you deserve, it hurts."
Leading Through Tough Conditions
Piastri lined up second on the grid beside pole-sitter Max Verstappen and quickly made his intentions clear. By Lap 9, he had seized the lead, holding firm through two safety car periods and torrential rain as the race unfolded in challenging conditions.
However, controversy struck following the second safety car restart on Lap 21. Piastri, attempting to navigate the treacherous conditions, braked aggressively—an action deemed "erratic" by the governing body. This led to stewards penalizing him with a 10-second time penalty under Article 55.15 of the FIA Sporting Regulations, which prohibits sudden braking behind the safety car that could jeopardize other drivers.
Stewards' Decision
In their ruling, the stewards stated:
"What Car 81 [Piastri] did was clearly a breach of [Article 55.15]. In accordance with the penalty guidelines, we imposed a 10-second time penalty to Car 81."
The penalty was served during Piastri's pit stop on Lap 43 and saw him drop behind Norris, who never relinquished the lead. Piastri, frustrated by the situation, requested team orders to swap the cars with just five laps to go. McLaren, however, declined, affirming there would be no team directives.
Piastri's Reaction
After the race, Piastri didn’t hide his frustration, holding back his emotions when addressing the media:
"I'm not going to say much; I'll get myself in trouble. Well done to Nico [Hulkenberg, who finished third]. I think that's the highlight of the day, so I'll leave it there.
"Apparently, you can't brake behind the safety car any more. I mean, I did it for five laps before that."
He added, "I still like Silverstone, even if I don't like it today. So thanks for coming out, everyone."
Post-Race Reflections
Despite his evident disappointment, Piastri acknowledged the positives in his performance during the post-race press conference.
"It obviously hurts at the moment," Piastri remarked candidly. "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. Ultimately, when you don't get the result you think you deserve, it hurts, especially when it's not in your control."
"The whole team did a really good job. The car was obviously mega, and giving myself credit, I feel like I did a good job today. So, it just makes it more painful when you don't win."
McLaren's Stance on the Penalty
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella also voiced his concerns over the stewards' decision, calling it “harsh.”
"We think overall that the penalty has been harsh, but we will review the data," Stella said post-race. "Like usual, we will see if there's any learning from that. At the moment, there's not much we can do. We just have to take it on the chin."
"A tough one for Oscar because he drove very well today. But it's just midseason. Many more opportunities, and I think this will give Oscar more motivation."
Piastri's Standings and McLaren's Resurgence
Despite the setback, Piastri maintains his lead in the drivers' championship after 12 races, though his advantage over Norris has now been reduced to just eight points. With nine podium finishes in the season's opening 12 rounds, five of which were wins, Piastri remains a dominant force in his debut season at McLaren.
As McLaren continues its resurgence, the showdown between the two teammates promises to intensify, with both drivers eying the ultimate prize. For Piastri, Silverstone was a reminder that victories in Formula 1 can be as much about fortune as performance.
Up Next
