Oscar Piastri Penalized for Brazilian GP Collision

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri received a 10-second penalty during the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix, with FIA stewards attributing full blame to him for a three-car collision involving Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc.

Why it matters:

This incident, occurring during a safety car restart, not only impacted the race outcome for Leclerc, who was forced to retire, but also affected Piastri's championship standing against teammate Lando Norris. Penalties for causing collisions underscore the strict interpretation of racing rules and highlight the fine margins drivers operate within during high-stakes restarts.

The Details:

• On lap six, during a safety car restart, Piastri, in fourth, attempted to overtake Antonelli and Leclerc, making it three-wide into Turn 1.
• Piastri locked his front-left tire, sliding into Antonelli, who was then pushed into Leclerc's Ferrari.
• Leclerc's car suffered terminal suspension damage and a lost front-left tire, forcing his retirement. Both Piastri and Antonelli escaped without damage.
• Stewards found Piastri "wholly responsible" for the collision, citing that he had not established sufficient overlap with Antonelli and locked his brakes while attempting to back out of the move.
  • The FIA statement clarified that Piastri's front axle was "not alongside the mirror of Car 12" (Antonelli), failing to meet the Driving Standard Guidelines for an inside overtake.
• The 10-second penalty was served at his first pitstop, dropping him from second to fifth place.
• Piastri also incurred two penalty points on his license, consistent with recent precedents for similar incidents.

The big picture:

This incident allowed Lando Norris to extend his championship lead over Piastri to 24 points with three rounds remaining, as Norris went on to claim his seventh Grand Prix win of 2025. The stewards' decision emphasizes the critical importance of clean driving, especially during restarts where the pack is tight and the risks are amplified.

What's next:

Piastri will need to bounce back from this setback as the season nears its conclusion. His performance and ability to recover from such incidents will be crucial in his battle for championship points against his teammate and other competitors in the final races.