Final lap collision with teammate wipes out Piastri
Oscar Piastri has fallen just short of his first podium finish in five months after an untimely collision in the final lap of the sprint race with teammate Lando Norris.
The wet weather in Singapore caused havoc in Saturday’s sprint race, with drivers finding few opportunities to overtake while others suffered damages to their car.
Oscar Piastri (L) crashes into the wall after clipping the tyre of teammate Lando Norris (R). Fox Sports
Piastri, who started in fourth, managed to get through 19 laps unscathed, but was put under pressure in the final lap by Norris, who was eager to lift from fifth.
The Australian driver went wide into a turn when Norris came down the inside and clipped his tyre, causing both cars to spin out, with Piastri hitting the wall.
“From where I sit, it was for fourth and fifth in a sprint race,” Piastri told Sky Sports when he arrived at the media pen shortly after the incident unfolded.
“I’m not that bothered either way, but it is a lot of work for the team now to get both cars fixed. It is a shame for the team.”
Norris managed to turn his car around and avoid hitting Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who moved into fourth and narrowed the gap to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The English McLaren driver went on to finish eighth. Piastri was ruled out.
Earlier, George Russell had started the race on pole but found himself flying into the wall after making contact with the slippery white line during the second lap.
The Mercedes gun failed to conceal his anger as he got out of the car, having lost his rear, with a safety car immediately deployed due to his “silly mistake”.
By lap four, five drivers - Franco Colapinto, Isack Hadjar, Russell, Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez - were all ruled out of the sprint race.
“A red flag might not be a bad idea here,” notable F1 commentator David Croft said on the coverage of the Singapore Grand Prix.
“We are just losing laps for what is only a 20-lap race.”
Oscar Piastri looks dejected after his collision. Fox Sports
Max Verstappen had no issues on the track despite the safety cars that had been deployed, holding out both McLaren and Ferrari’s pairings to keep the top spot.
Attention then turned to Alex Albon after he rammed into the back of Gabriel Bortoleto, but both drivers managed to stay in the race for a little longer.
The pair later came into the pits and were retired with four laps remaining.
Valterri Bottas followed the pair in to be rubbed out of the sprint race, while Verstappen went on to claim victory with Ferrari’s duo claiming second and third.
The Singapore Grand Prix main race will take place at 11pm AEDT on Sunday.
