Piastri sidelined as drivers probe call that left Aussie fuming
Updated . First published at
The controversial decision not to penalise Charles Leclerc for crashing into Oscar Piastri last weekend will be addressed in a meeting between the FIA and F1 drivers ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The collision left Piastri’s car with a damaged floor, which heavily compromised the rest of his Belgian Grand Prix.
Debris flies after Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari makes contact with Oscar Piastri’s McLaren. Getty Images
On team radio, Piastri claimed Leclerc “didn’t leave enough space. That could’ve been a massive crash”.
To the surprise of fans and pundits, Leclerc was not punished for the move.
Adding to the confusion, the stewards in their report after the race said they decided not to punish Leclerc because Piastri had “no possibility of completing the overtake from that position”.
It wasn’t the only controversial decision to stem from the race. Lewis Hamilton was hit with a five-second penalty for contact that put George Russell into the gravel trap and out of the race on the opening lap. That move was widely viewed as a racing incident, and undeserving of a penalty.
Both decisions seemed at odds with the FIA’s own International Sporting Code.
It’s believed the meeting in Hungary was already scheduled, but the stewards’ decisions from Spa were a late addition to the agenda.
Meanwhile, Piastri will watch the opening practice session of the weekend at the Hungaroring, handing his car to McLaren junior driver Leonardo Fornaroli.
F1 rules stipulate teams must give rookie drivers – those with two grand prix starts or less – four practice outings each season. Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris gave his car to Fornaroli in Barcelona last month.
Piastri is one of three drivers – alongside Alpine‘s Franco Colapinto and Haas’ Oliver Bearman – to sit out in Hungary, the scene of Piastri’s maiden win two years ago.
It’s common for teams to use the European races to fulfil the requirements because they’re the circuits drivers are most familiar with, having driven on them throughout their junior careers.
McLaren is bringing a raft of upgrades to the car for the Hungarian race, including a completely redesigned floor and several other smaller aerodynamic upgrades.
Oscar Piastri will sit out of the opening practice session of the weekend in Hungary. Clive Rose
Norris will also use opening practice to test McLaren’s version of the so-called macarena rear wing, which instead of opening when straight mode is activated, rotates 180 degrees. Ferrari seem to have mastered the concept, while Red Bull ditched their version for last week’s race.
Norris (103 points) and Piastri (92) sit fifth and sixth in the standings, well-behind 19-year-old Mercedes gun Kimi Antonelli (204).
The Hungarian Grand Prix is the last race before F1’s four-week mid-season break.
