In the early stages of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix Oscar Piastri was running at the front, having parlayed a P2 start into a lead ahead of Max Verstappen and McLaren teammate Lando Norris.
Oscar Piastri vents that he ‘didn’t get the result he deserved’ after British Grand Prix
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished second at the F1 British Grand Prix, but believes he ‘deserved’ more
Photo by Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
But as the grid rolled around Silverstone under a Safety Car due to wet conditions in the first half of the Grand Prix, Piastri braked between Turns 14 and 15. Verstappen briefly pulled alongside him, and race officials took notice.
When the race resumed Verstappen spun, which for a moment seemed to give Piastri even more of an advantage as his Red Bull rival slid back through the field. But that is when race officials intervened, noting Piastri for a potential Safety Car infringement.
Moments later the decision came, and Piastri was hit with a ten-second penalty. He served that penalty on a subsequent pit stop and finished second, but behind Norris. That result saw his McLaren teammate inch closer to him in the F1 Drivers’ Championship standings, and left Piastri frustrated after the checkered flag.
“I’m not going to say much, I’ll get myself in trouble. Well done to Nico [Hülkenberg who finished third for his first F1 podium] I think that’s the highlight of the day. I’ll leave it there,” said Piastri trackside to Jenson Button.
“Apparently you can’t brake behind the Safety Car anymore. I did it for five laps before that and, again, I’m not going to say too much because I’ll get myself in trouble.”
The Australian driver then pivoted to pay tribute to the fans.
“But thanks to the crowd for a great event, thanks for sticking through the weather. I still like Silverstone even if I don’t like it today. Thanks for coming out everyone.”
Speaking later in the FIA Press Conference, Piastri opened up a bit more about the incident.
“I thought the penalty was pretty bad but, anyway, I’m glad we had a quick car today, showed what I needed to prove, and it’s just disappointing when what you deserve gets taken from you, but that’s how it goes,” said Piastri in the FIA Press Conference.
“I hit the brakes, saw the Safety Car lights went off so I didn’t accelerate again, and Max went past me which was a bit strange, and then I got a penalty for it so about as simple as that.
“The pace was good, I did everything I needed to, just didn’t get the result I deserved.”
Piastri now has an eight-point edge over Norris in the Drivers’ Championship standings. The grid will pause for a few weeks before heading to historic Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix, on the final weekend of July.
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