Why was Oscar Piastri penalised at Silverstone when George Russell wasn’t for his actions behind the safety car in Canada? Is the difference that one was in the wet and therefore visibility limited? – Nick
This is a question Piastri was clearly asking himself after the British Grand Prix, even if he did not say so in quite so many words.
Consistency of stewards’ opinions is something teams and drivers are constantly asking for, and on the face of it this does look like a contradiction.
The two incidents were very similar. In Canada, Russell braked and Max Verstappen passed him. At Silverstone, Piastri did the same with the same result.
In Canada, the stewards took no action, and rejected a post-race protest from Red Bull. At Silverstone, Piastri lost the win as a consequence of a 10-second penalty.
There were some differences, however. The brake pressure Piastri applied, while perfectly normal for a braking event behind a safety car, was more than double Russell’s. And the conditions were different – wet rather than dry – with the reduced visibility that came from that.
Verstappen made it clear he did not view the incidents that differently, however.
After Sunday’s race, he was asked if he thought Piastri deserved a penalty.
“The thing is that it happened to me now a few times, this kind of scenario,” Verstappen said. “I just find it strange that suddenly now Oscar is the first one to receive 10 seconds.”
Because there was no difference to what Russell did in Canada?
“Well, to the stewards, yes,” Verstappen replied.
Piastri said he felt he had done everything within the rules, and implied he had been unlucky to be braking at the same time the safety car lights went out to indicate a restart – the time after which drivers are not allowed “erratic braking nor any other manoeuvre which is likely to endanger other drivers”.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “I wasn’t surprised to see him get a penalty. That was what you would expect.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said he felt the penalty was “very harsh” and he would discuss it with the stewards.
He said McLaren had made the point during the race it should be looked at afterwards.
“I think we should have checked in detail the opinion of the drivers involved,” he said. “We should have checked why the safety car was called in so late and then put together all the elements such that the decision could be as fair as possible.”
