Just In: Late FIA Penalty Drops Oscar Piatris on Spanish GP Grid to p…read more
Late FIA Penalty Drops Oscar Piatris on Spanish GP Grid to p…read more
Barcelona, June 1, 2025 — Tensions flared at the Spanish Grand Prix as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was handed a 10-second time penalty by the FIA following a dramatic on-track collision with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The incident, which took place during Lap 15 at Turn 4 of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, became one of the defining moments of the race and could have broader consequences in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship battles.
Piastri had been closing in on Verstappen for several laps, showing strong pace and mounting pressure. Seizing an opportunity, he attempted a dive down the inside at Turn 4. However, the move ended in contact. Piastri’s front-left clipped Verstappen’s rear-right, causing the Red Bull driver to spin off the racing line and lose several positions. Verstappen quickly recovered and continued the race, but not without voicing his frustration over the team radio, calling Piastri’s move “reckless” and “desperate.”
Race stewards immediately investigated the incident, reviewing all available footage, telemetry data, and radio communications. After deliberation, the FIA determined that Piastri was “predominantly at fault,” citing a lack of sufficient overlap and failure to leave Verstappen enough room — both key elements in clean overtaking under FIA Sporting Regulations.
An official FIA statement declared: “The stewards have reviewed the footage and determined that Car 81 (Piastri) was not entitled to racing room under the current overtaking guidelines. As a result, a 10-second time penalty has been applied to Car 81.”
The penalty is a setback for Piastri, who had been running comfortably in the top five and was in strong contention for solid championship points. The tightly packed midfield could now see the McLaren driver drop multiple positions in the final race classification, further impacting the team’s bid in the Constructors’ standings.
For Verstappen, though he managed to recover and finish within the points, the incident may have bigger implications in his championship campaign. With the title race incredibly close this season, even a minor setback could prove costly.
This latest flashpoint only intensifies the growing rivalry between McLaren and Red Bull. As the season progresses and the competition tightens, such incidents underline the high stakes and razor-thin margins separating Formula 1’s top teams. All eyes now turn to the next Grand Prix, where the fallout from Barcelona may still be felt.
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