Oscar Piastri was handed a 10-second time penalty for a safety car infringement, which allowed teammate Lando Norris to pass him and win the British GP with Piastri in P2.
After a chaotic race with multiple safety cars and rookie retirements, one safety car infringement in particular majorly impacted Oscar Piastri’s race. The Safety Car was deployed on lap 14 due to severe weather conditions. It returned to the pits at the end of lap 18.
The race stewards noted Piastri for hard braking as the safety car ended. He slowed his car significantly, and caused Verstappen behind to take evasive action to avoid a collision. Moments later, the Red Bull lost eight places after spinning out.
The McLaren driver was given a 10-second time penalty, forcing him to surrender his race lead to Norris. It remained a McLaren 1-2 finish regardless due to a large gap separating the papaya cars from third-placed Nico Hulkenberg.
Speaking to the media in Parc Ferme after the race, Piastri declined to comment on the incident.
“Yeah, I’m not going to say much. I’ll get myself in trouble.
“Well done to Nico. I think that’s the highlight of the day. So, yeah, I’ll live with it.”
Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg drove an impressive race to finish P3, his first podium in Formula 1 after 239 race starts. The Australian driver’s congratulations did not extend to his teammate for his first home race win.
No hard feelings towards Silverstone
Despite his confusion at the safety car incident, Piastri said that he still likes Silverstone, even if it wasn’t his race this weekend.
“I mean, apparently you can’t brake behind the safety car anymore. I mean, I did it for five laps before that and, I get it. I’m not going to say too much because I’ll get myself in trouble, but thanks to the crowd for a great event.
“Thanks for sticking through the weather. I still like Silverstone, even if I don’t like it today, so thanks for coming out and all.”
The British GP saw a record breaking attendance of half a million fans, who would have been pleased to see a British driver on the top step of the podium after enduring all the rain, wind, and sun that Silverstone had to offer.
Piastri maintains his lead of the Driver’s Championship with just 8 points separating the two McLaren drivers after round 12.
With F1 now at the halfway point of the 2025 F1 season. McLaren have a staggering lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, with 460 points compared to second-placed Ferrari’s 222.
