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Backlash Builds to Piastri’s Brazil Penalty as Steiner Rebukes McLaren

New critiques argue the guidelines were applied too rigidly, with McLaren choosing not to contest the call.

Overview

  • FIA stewards deemed Oscar Piastri wholly responsible for a Turn 1 restart collision at Interlagos, issuing a 10‑second time penalty and two licence points based on lack of required overlap and a brake lock‑up.
  • The contact with Kimi Antonelli triggered a hit on Charles Leclerc that forced the Ferrari out, while Piastri finished fifth to leave him 24 points behind Lando Norris with three races remaining.
  • Jolyon Palmer wrote that the incident should be seen as a racing incident, contending Piastri was entitled to space and that stewards applied the ‘overlap at the apex’ guideline too rigidly.
  • Jamie Chadwick said overhead and onboard footage shows Antonelli squeezing Piastri, arguing the lock‑up was a reaction to closing room rather than a loss of control.
  • Ex-Haas boss Guenther Steiner criticized McLaren for not presenting a case to the stewards, saying a challenge was warranted on competitive and morale grounds even if unlikely to succeed.