Oscar Piastri recently shared details of an uncomfortable experience with Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in the cooldown room after the Belgian Grand Prix. Following the race, Piastri had finished third but was later promoted to second after Russell’s disqualification due to his car being underweight by 1.5kg. In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Piastri opened up about the tense situation, describing it as his most awkward cooldown room experience to date.

The race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium had seen George Russell finish ahead of his Mercedes teammate, Hamilton, thanks to a one-stop strategy implemented by the team. In contrast, Hamilton, who had been placed on a two-stop strategy, performed strongly and was in contention for a potential victory. However, the dynamics changed after the race when it was revealed that Russell’s car did not meet the minimum weight requirement and was disqualified, promoting Piastri to second place and Hamilton to first.

In the cooldown room before the disqualification announcement, Piastri sensed the tension between the two Mercedes drivers. While Piastri was new to such situations, he quickly noticed that Hamilton was not in a particularly chatty mood. Piastri explained that, given Hamilton’s strong performance and the strategy choices, he understood why Hamilton was feeling frustrated. “Lewis drove a great race,” Piastri said, acknowledging that Hamilton had the potential to win comfortably under different circumstances. As a result, Piastri chose to stay quiet, watching the highlights in silence while keeping to himself.

For Piastri, who has been in exceptional form since McLaren’s mid-season upgrades, the incident was a lesson in navigating the emotional dynamics of top-level racing. Since McLaren introduced an upgrade package in May during the Miami Grand Prix, the young Australian has gone on to secure several podium finishes, including victories in Hungary and Azerbaijan, cementing his place as one of the brightest young talents in Formula 1.

Russell, for his part, expressed his disappointment over the disqualification via X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Heartbreaking. We came in 1.5kg underweight and have been disqualified from the race. We left it all on the track today, and I take pride in crossing the line first. There will be more to come.” Despite the setback, Russell remained optimistic about his performance and future races.

Meanwhile, Hamilton acknowledged the disqualification in a more subdued tone. While expressing sympathy for Russell, he noted that he didn’t want to win a race through disqualification. However, Hamilton emphasized that the recent competitiveness of Mercedes was a positive sign, highlighting the team’s efforts to return to the top and fight for victories more consistently.

Overall, the moment in the cooldown room provided a glimpse into the mental strain and intensity that drivers at the highest level of motorsport face. Piastri’s recount of the awkward exchange underscores the complexity of Formula 1’s high-stakes environment, where both teamwork and individual success are constantly in delicate balance.