Was McLaren's Andrea Stella Right to Call Piastri’s Brazil GP Penalty Harsh?
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Synopsis
McLaren's Andrea Stella criticized Oscar Piastri's penalty during the São Paulo GP, calling it harsh. As Piastri struggles to find form, can he reclaim his podium potential in the remaining races? Discover insights from Stella and the team's assessment of Piastri's performance.
Key Takeaways
- Andrea Stella highlighted the harshness of Piastri’s penalty.
- Piastri's actions were deemed responsible for the collision.
- Shared responsibility between drivers was suggested.
- Piastri is currently struggling with consistency.
- Positive race pace was observed in the latter stints.
New Delhi, Nov 12 (NationPress) McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has labeled Oscar Piastri’s penalty during the São Paulo Grand Prix as “certainly on the harsh side.” The Australian driver received a 10-second time penalty for colliding with Kimi Antonelli in Sunday’s race.
Piastri crossed the finish line in fifth place at Interlagos after serving his penalty during the initial pit stop. The stewards ruled him fully accountable for the incident on Lap 20, which transpired right after a Safety Car restart when he attempted an inside maneuver on Antonelli at Turn 1.
The collision resulted in contact that sent the Mercedes rookie into Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, who was trying to overtake from the outside. This clash forced Leclerc to retire from the race, while Piastri initially soared to second place behind teammate and eventual race winner Lando Norris — only to see the penalty rob him of a possible podium finish.
“Regarding the penalty, I would assert that it was definitely on the harsh side,” Stella remarked to Formula 1. “It is true that we observed a slight lock-up, but simultaneously, he managed to maintain his trajectory, which is ultimately what matters.”
The McLaren chief argued that responsibility should have been shared between both drivers. “I believe the blame should be divided with Kimi, as he was aware that Oscar was on the inside, and the collision could have potentially been avoided,” Stella elaborated.
“It’s possible Kimi was also concerned about Leclerc’s presence on the outside. It was a challenging situation, but I still feel the penalty was too severe for Oscar, considering he was deemed fully at fault for the incident.”
“Now that it’s over, I want to emphasize our respect for the stewards; we accept their decision and will move forward.”
Following the race, Piastri finds himself 24 points behind Norris in the drivers' standings with only three Grands Prix and one Sprint remaining this season. The 24-year-old has not been on the podium for the last five races, and his recent performances have been less consistent compared to his strong start this season.
Nevertheless, Stella found some positive aspects in Piastri’s race pace in Brazil. “From a pace perspective, I think the performance was quite promising in the second and third stints,” he stated. “In the first stint, Oscar was dealing with some tire damage from a lock-up, and he initially thought the stint would be longer, but in the second and third stints, his performance improved.”
“I just spoke with Oscar about some adjustments we discussed for these low-grip conditions, and I believe he executed them well during the race,” Stella added. “So, we can take away encouraging signs in terms of performance and race pace from this event.”
Point of View
It's vital to present an unbiased view. McLaren's Andrea Stella raises important questions about race penalties and driver accountability. While Piastri's actions led to a penalty, the shared responsibility highlighted by Stella suggests a need for consistent decision-making by race stewards. Our commitment remains to provide fair and balanced reporting, essential for fostering informed discussions in motorsport.
NationPress
13/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What penalty did Oscar Piastri receive at the São Paulo GP?
Oscar Piastri received a 10-second time penalty for a collision with Kimi Antonelli during the race.
What did Andrea Stella say about the penalty?
Andrea Stella described the penalty as 'definitely on the harsh side' and suggested that responsibility should be shared between Piastri and Antonelli.
How did the penalty affect Piastri's race position?
After serving the penalty, Piastri finished in fifth place, losing a potential podium position.
What are the current standings for Piastri in the championship?
Piastri is currently 24 points behind his teammate Lando Norris in the drivers' standings.
What did Stella say about Piastri's race pace?
Stella found Piastri's race pace in the second and third stints to be encouraging despite the earlier struggles.
