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Motorsport

Why Oscar Piastri was penalized in F1 British GP

Oscar Piastri McLaren FIA Lando Norris George Russell

The FIA race stewards have explained why McLaren driver Oscar Piastri was handed a race-altering 10-second penalty for his safety-car infringement during Formula 1's British Grand Prix.

Coming to a safety car restart on lap 21 of 52 during a chaotic, mixed-weather race, long-time leader Piastri jumped on the brakes down Hangar Straight just as the lights went out on the safety car, signalling a restart for the next lap.

Second-placed Max Verstappen had to brake and take avoiding action in response, momentarily passing Piastri on the right and uttering his displeasure at the championship leader’s actions.

The incident drew some parallels with George Russell being protested by Red Bull in Canada for a somewhat comparable incident behind the safety car, although in Russell's case the stewards agreed his braking was much less severe and in line with normal driving behaviour behind the safety car to heat up the tyres.

However, the Silverstone stewards felt Piastri had clearly crossed a line due to the harsh manner in which he braked, noting 59.2 psi of brake pressure that slowed his McLaren down from 218km/h to 52km/h. They deemed that to be erratic and therefore no longer in compliance with the sporting regulations.

"When the clerk of the course had declared that the safety car was coming in that lap and the lights were extinguished, Car 81 suddenly braked hard (59.2 psi of brake pressure) and reduced speed in the middle of the straight between T14 and T15, from 218 kph to 52 kph, resulting in Car 1 having to take evasive action to avoid a collision," the FIA stewards wrote.

Oscar Piastri, McLaren (Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images)

"This momentarily resulted in Car 1 unavoidably overtaking Car 81, a position which he gave back immediately. Article 55.15 of the FIA Sporting Regulations required Car 81 to proceed at a pace which involved no erratic braking nor any other manoeuvre which is likely to endanger other drivers from the point at which the lights on the safety car are turned off.

"What Car 81 did was clearly a breach of that article. In accordance with the penalty guidelines, we imposed a 10-second time penalty to Car 81."

Piastri was furious with his penalty, which he sat out at the final round of pitstops and allowed team-mate Lando Norris to snatch away the win on home soil.

"Apparently you can't brake behind the safety car anymore," he fumed. "I mean, I did it for five laps before that. I'm not going to say too much, because I'll get myself in trouble."

Piastri finished second behind Norris as his championship lead over his McLaren team-mate shrank to just eight points.

Photos from British GP - Race

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Alex Albon, Williams

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Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Lando Norris, McLaren

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Lando Norris, McLaren

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British Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay

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Adam Norris

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

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Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

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Lego Race Winners Trophy

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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

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Heinz-Harald Frentzen and his daughters

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Vin Diesel on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain.

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The Red Arrows fly over the grid.

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Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

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Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

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George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

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Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

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Lando Norris, McLaren

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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren

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Lando Norris, McLaren

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Lando Norris, McLaren

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Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 British Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

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