Andrea Stella, team principal of McLaren, has spoken out about the penalty given to Oscar Piastri following the incident at turn 1 during the São Paulo Grand Prix. The Australian made contact with Kimi Antonelli, who in turn hit Charles Leclerc‘s Ferrari. The Monegasque had to abandon his race as a result. According to Stella, the penalty for Piastri is too severe.
“In terms of that penalty, I really think it’s quite harsh,” said Stella. “It’s true that we see a slight blocking moment, but at the same time, he manages to maintain his line, and that’s ultimately what counts.” Stella pointed out that in his view, the responsibility should have been shared: “I think Kimi also bears some responsibility, because at one point Kimi knew that Oscar was on the inside and the accident could probably have been avoided. Perhaps Kimi was also worried about Leclerc on the outside. It was clearly a tricky situation, but I think the penalty for Oscar is too severe to hold him fully responsible for the incident.”
However, Stella emphasized that McLaren accepts the stewards’ decision: “On the other hand, it’s done now. As I said: we respect the stewards, we accept it and move on.” After his fifth place in Brazil, Piastri is now 24 points behind title rival and teammate Lando Norris. With three more Grands Prix and a sprint race to go, Piastri will need to improve his recent form if he wants to win the world title.
