Late penalty:FIA Slaps Oscar Piastri with 10-Second Penalty Afte

Late penalty:FIA Slaps Oscar Piastri with 10-Second Penalty After Cl… read more

Barcelona, June 1, 2025 — A dramatic twist shook the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix today as the FIA announced a 10-second time penalty for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri following an on-track collision with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The incident occurred midway through the race and has added even more fire to what was already a fiercely contested battle between the top teams.

The clash took place on Lap 15 at Turn 4 of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Piastri, who had been closing in on Verstappen for several laps, made an aggressive move down the inside of the Red Bull driver. In doing so, he made contact with Verstappen’s RB21, sending the Dutchman into a spin and off the racing line. Verstappen dropped multiple positions as a result, losing crucial ground in the championship fight.

Race stewards swiftly launched an investigation and after reviewing video footage, telemetry, and team radio communications, deemed Piastri “predominantly at fault” for the contact. The ruling cited that the McLaren driver lacked sufficient overlap going into the corner and did not leave Verstappen enough space, violating the racing etiquette outlined by the FIA’s Sporting Regulations.

“The stewards have reviewed the footage and determined that Car 81 (Piastri) was not entitled to racing room under the current overtaking guidelines,” read the official statement from the FIA. “As a result, a 10-second time penalty has been applied to Car 81.”

The penalty is a major blow to Piastri, who had been running comfortably within the top five and looked poised to score significant points for McLaren. Depending on how tightly packed the midfield finishes, the penalty could drop him several places down the final classification.

Verstappen, meanwhile, was able to rejoin the race but was clearly frustrated over team radio, calling the move “reckless” and “desperate.” While he managed to fight his way back into the points, the incident could prove costly in the context of the Drivers’ Championship, where every point is critical in this tightly contested season.

This is not the first time the FIA has intervened in a clash between top contenders this season, but it underscores the growing tension between McLaren and Red Bull as the 2025 season heats up. With just a few races separating the two teams in the Constructors’ Championship, today’s penalty may have wider implications than just one race.