Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
Oscar Piastri insisted he 'couldn't do much more' to avoid the contact with Arvid Lindblad at the Mexico City Grand Prix that ultimately cost him a points finish.
The McLaren driver crossed the line seventh but received a post-race 10 second penalty for causing the collision which put Lindblad out of the race. He was classified 13th once all penalties had been applied, one position down on where he qualified after failing to make it out of Q2.
Giving his account of the incident which sent the Racing Bulls driver into the barrier, Piastri explained that he believed he had already been taking avoiding action before the pair collided.
“I mean, I think it's always tricky. I was very close to alongside, and I was kind of there because I was avoiding a crash in the first place,” he said. "So, tricky one, but I think when we actually made contact, we were both going straight.”
Piastri stressed that he had been attempting to back out of the battle rather than force his way through at the next corner. “It wasn't like I tried to stick my nose into Turn 2 and stuck my nose where I shouldn't. I was trying to concede the position, and I was already off the track, so I couldn't really do much more.”
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Why Piastri was handed a 10-second penalty
The stewards, however, disagreed with Piastri, insisting that he did not leave sufficient overlap to be entitled to the corner. They also revealed how they thought the Australian could have avoided making contact with Lindblad.
The stewards verdict read: "The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 81 (Oscar Piastri), the driver of Car 41 (Arvid Lindblad), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video and in-car video evidence.
"On the approach to turn 1 the driver of Car 81 attempted an overtake on the outside of Car 41. Car 81 was never fully alongside Car 41 so was not able to claim the right to the corner. Through turn 1, the driver of Car 41 defended his position by releasing the brakes however does not force Car 81 off the track, allowing racing room on the outside – which he is not required to do.
"The Stewards determined that the collision could have been avoided if the driver of Car 81 had moved further to the left after turn 1, even if this involved leaving the track prior to turn 2."
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