Piastri denied access to F1 Monaco paddock by security

Footage circulating on social media shows Piastri speaking with security staff. The Australian appears to be trying to access the paddock area of the circuit but is held up while the security team consults over a radio. Eventually, the McLaren driver is guided away from the entry gates by a staff member. The issue was quickly resolved, as Piastri was present as usual during his media duties on Thursday.

The incident took place on Thursday, ahead of the race weekend in Monaco. Whether there was an issue with his access pass or the security staff simply didn’t recognize the Formula 1 driver is unknown, but the footage seems to show he had his pass on him. It’s not uncommon for drivers to forget their passes, which sometimes leads to amusing situations. Often they are still let through, although in cases of strict security they may have to go back to fetch their pass. In other cases, drivers have been known to hop over the gate—something Yuki Tsunoda was particularly known for. Max Verstappen has also wriggled his way past the entry barriers before.

For Piastri, it’s certainly a curious start to a weekend he has approached with reasonable expectations. Speaking to GPblog, the Australian said he sees Monaco as a circuit that suits him well. At the same time, he expects Ferrari to play an important role again in the principality. According to the McLaren driver, Ferrari manages to show up competitive every year on the street circuit of Monte Carlo. With that, he aligns himself with a group of drivers who see Charles Leclerc and Ferrari as among the main contenders for pole position and the win.

For McLaren, the weekend comes at an important moment in the season. The team has had a mixed year so far and has not yet managed to carry over last year’s form under the new regulations. Piastri also began the championship with two heavy setbacks. In Australia he didn’t even make the start, while his weekend in China also ended early due to technical problems.

Since then, however, Piastri has managed to fight back. The McLaren driver finished second in Japan and later claimed another podium in Miami. That saw him climb back to sixth in the championship after his difficult start to the season, although McLaren still trails the dominant Mercedes for now.

Monaco is seen by many as a chance for other teams to close in on the front of the field. The street circuit places different demands on the cars than most tracks on the calendar and could potentially offer McLaren more opportunities than the fast circuits where Mercedes has excelled in recent months.