Why was Oscar Piastri penalised at Silverstone when George Russell wasn’t for his actions behind the security automobile in Canada? Is the distinction that one was within the moist and subsequently visibility restricted? – Nick
It is a query Piastri was clearly asking himself after the British Grand Prix, even when he didn’t say so in fairly so many phrases.
Consistency of stewards’ opinions is one thing groups and drivers are continually asking for, and on the face of it this does appear to be a contradiction.
The 2 incidents have been very comparable. In Canada, Russell braked and Max Verstappen handed him. At Silverstone, Piastri did the identical with the identical consequence.
In Canada, the stewards took no motion, and rejected a post-race protest from Purple Bull. At Silverstone, Piastri misplaced the win as a consequence of a 10-second penalty.
There have been some variations, nevertheless. The brake strain Piastri utilized, whereas completely regular for a braking occasion behind a security automobile, was greater than double Russell’s. And the circumstances have been totally different – moist slightly than dry – with the lowered visibility that got here from that.
Verstappen made it clear he didn’t view the incidents that in a different way, nevertheless.
After Sunday’s race, he was requested if he thought Piastri deserved a penalty.
“The factor is that it occurred to me now just a few occasions, this sort of situation,” Verstappen stated. “I simply discover it unusual that instantly now Oscar is the primary one to obtain 10 seconds.”
As a result of there was no distinction to what Russell did in Canada?
“Effectively, to the stewards, sure,” Verstappen replied.
Piastri stated he felt he had performed all the things inside the guidelines, and implied he had been unfortunate to be braking on the identical time the security automobile lights went out to point a restart – the time after which drivers aren’t allowed “erratic braking nor another manoeuvre which is more likely to endanger different drivers”.
Purple Bull group principal Christian Horner stated: “I wasn’t shocked to see him get a penalty. That was what you’ll count on.”
McLaren group principal Andrea Stella stated he felt the penalty was “very harsh” and he would talk about it with the stewards.
He stated McLaren had made the purpose in the course of the race it needs to be checked out afterwards.
“I believe we must always have checked intimately the opinion of the drivers concerned,” he stated. “We should always have checked why the security automobile was known as in so late after which put collectively all the weather such that the choice might be as truthful as doable.”
