FIA Stewards slammed by F1 driver as Piastri penalty dubbed 'unacceptable'
Photo: Race Pictures
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Oscar Piastri's penalty at the Brazilian Grand Prix still sparks debate, and Carlos Sain'z has taken aim at the FIA Stewards for what he believes was an 'unacceptable' decision.
"For me, the fact that Oscar got a penalty there in Brazil is unacceptable. Honestly, for the category that we are in and being the pinnacle of motorsport."- Carlos Sainz.
Photo: Race Pictures
At the restart of the race in Sao Paulo, Piastri went for a move up the inside of Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Turn 1. The McLaren driver braked early, the Mercedes rookie later, and was able to draw half a car's length over Piastri at the apex of the corner.
However, as Antonelli turned, the MCL39 had already gone for the gap and was on the edge of the track. After a lock up, Piastri collided with the Mercedes driver and sent him in a spin that ended up collecting and taking out of the race innocent bystander Charles Leclerc.
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Assessing the Stewarding body's decision Sainz delivered a severe criticism with regard to the penalty. "For me, the fact that Oscar got a penalty there in Brazil is unacceptable," he said in Las Vegas. "Honestly, for the category that we are in and being the pinnacle of motorsport. I'm not going to explain why. I think you all guys saw what happened.
Antonelli, Leclerc and Piastri collide - Photo: Race Pictures
"I think everyone that's seen racing knows that is not Oscar's fault at all. And everyone that's really raced a race car knows he could have done nothing to avoid an accident there and he got away with a 10 -second penalty. So, for me, it's something that I don't understand."
Sainz has been involved in a number of incidents since Zandvoort, and he claims that all of them were misjudged by the race officials. "I didn't understand my Zandvoort penalty.
"I didn't understand why Ollie (Oliver Bearman, ed.), got a penalty when we both collided in Monza. He was not deserving of that penalty and I told him straight out of the race. I didn't understand how I got a 10 -second in Austin. And then the Brazil situation," he added.
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Sainz comes up with potential solution
The Williams driver thinks that the decision-making standards are not up to par to the category's, and thinks one key change could improve the Stewarding.
He continued: "There's been not one but multiple incidents this year that for me are far from where the sport should be.
"I honestly think It's just me now, maybe speaking too much now. I shouldn't be, I know.
"With good stewarding that truly understands racing really well, and consistent stewarding, throughout the year we would develop an understanding between, among us, and you would know when it's your fault. They would know when it's someone's fault," he concluded.
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Steiner criticises McLaren for not appealing Piastri's penalty
Former Haas team boss Guenther Steiner blasted McLaren for not appealing Piastri’s penalty at the Brazilian Grand Prix, questioning why the team didn’t at least present their case to the stewards.
Read his full reaction here.
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