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9m ago

Piastri's Baku Crash Ends Long Streaks as FIA Confirms No Grid Penalty and Verstappen Cuts Gap

McLaren concedes its car struggled on Baku’s low‑downforce layout, intensifying calls to back Piastri as the title fight moves to Singapore.

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Overview

  • Piastri retired on lap one after a jump start and crash, and his five‑second penalty will not be converted into a grid drop under FIA rules.
  • His 44-race finishing run and 34-race points streak ended with the Baku retirement.
  • Max Verstappen won in Baku to close the deficit, leaving the standings at Piastri 324, Norris 299 and Verstappen 255.
  • Lando Norris and team boss Andrea Stella said the MCL39 was difficult to drive and lacked passing capability in Baku, reflecting wider struggles on low‑downforce tracks such as Monza.
  • NBC analyst Christian Danner urged McLaren to prioritize Piastri as its lead driver based on his points edge, while Ralf Schumacher said the setback increases late‑season pressure.