Cricket
Motorsport
Basketball test
League - Test
Combat Sports
Netball
Football
"Can't just disappear": Piastri penalty slammed by drivers
Emily Benammar • November 10th, 2025 8:57 am
- Lando Norris wins in Brazil
- Oscar Piastri finishes 5th despite penalties
- Max Verstappen drives from pitlane to 3rd
- Points: Norris - 390, Piastri - 366, Verstappen - 341
“I can’t just disappear,” Oscar Piastri said after the race when asked about the incident which saw him cop a 10-second penalty.
And he’s not wrong. Quite simply, the stewards got it wrong.
It’s a decision that could well have ended any chance of Piastri being crowned the world champion in 2025 and the consensus among F1 drivers and experts is that the 10-second penalty imposed on the young Australian was an overreach.
Replays of the incident as well as side by side on-board video from the drivers’ perspective show Kimi Antonelli was fully aware that Piastri was on his left side going into the turn with Charles Leclerc the innocent party on the right.
Three is never a good number in F1 and while the trio were level going into turn 1 on the lap six restart, it’s the lead-in which exposes the stewards’ error.
Antonelli can clearly be seen looking to his left – the Mercedes was aware of Piastri’s presence but followed Lando Norris’ race line.
He did not yield, did not give Piastri space and could have while retaining position.
As such, Piastri - who was as close to the white line as he could be - was forced to lock up late before he and Antonelli made contact which subsequently sent the Mercedes spinning into Leclerc, ending the Ferrari’s race.
Claims or theories from the stewards that Piastri was “out of control” are totally dispelled by the vision.
In their race review, the stewards also slapped Piastri with two penalty points on his licence.
Explaining the decision the reports said: "At the safety car restart on Lap 6, Car 81 (Oscar Piastri) attempted to overtake Car 12 (Kimi Antonelli) on the inside of Turn 1," the statement read. "In doing so, PIA did not establish the required overlap prior to and at the apex, as his front axle was not alongside the mirror of Car 12, as defined in the Driving Standard Guidelines for overtaking on the inside of a corner.
"PIA locked the brakes as he attempted to avoid contact by slowing, but was unable to do so and made contact with ANT. This contact caused ANT to make secondary contact with Car 16 (Charles Leclerc), who was positioned on the outside and was forced to retire from the race as a result.
Here’s what drivers and F1 experts had to say about it:
OSCAR PIASTRI
“I don’t think so (no regrets). I had a clear opportunity, and I went for it.
“The other two braked late and there was a lock up into the corner because I could see Kimi was not going to give me space.
“I can’t disappear, but it is what it is. Just try and get the most out of it that I can.
“Today the penalty was one thing but I don’t think the pace was at a level I wanted it to be.
The first stint was tough. I’m trying to get back on top of things with that. We tried to have as best a weekend that we could.”
KARUN CHANDOK (Sky F1)
“Antonelli was caught napping. They are level (Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren). Antonelli must know he is the meat in the sandwich.
“Oscar has no where else to go. He had no more room on the inside.
“Kimi looks in his left mirror and is aware Oscar is alongside him. It’s not like he didn’t know he was coming. When they’re fully alongside, he (Oscar) is entitled to go. Before the lock up Oscar is in control.
“Clearly Kimi is looking where Oscar is. Oscar expected the driver on the right to give him more room. Antonelli has followed Norris’ race line.
“The way the guidelines are at the moment he (Oscar) wasn’t alongside at the apex. I think it’s a flawed thing to apply. I think it is a strong penalty. Maybe a five (second). The consequences were bad for the other cars.
“He (Oscar) finished 15 seconds off Lando, if he didn’t have that penalty, he would be second. That’s a chunk of points he has lost. I would sense the frustration.”
JAMIE CHADWICK
“Charles is totally innocent party. The person that hasn’t used the space is Kimi. I’m on the side where I think Oscar has been hard done by here.
“Kimi could have not risked the contact and held position. He is not locked up because he is out of control he is locked up because he has seen Kimi. He is as far to the white line as he can be.
“He’s got the penalty from my understanding because he is “out of control” I don’t think he is. I think he has been hard done by.
“I think it’s a racing incident, partial blame I put on Kimi. He had an amazing race, but he should have given Oscar space.
“They (stewards) have seen an incident, they have to apportion blame. I don’t think Kimi needs a penalty but Oscar has been hard done by.
“There’s things have huge championship repercussions, but he has lost a lot of points that he will be frustrated about. It's Lando's to lose."
CHARLES LECLERC
“Oscar was optimistic but Kimi knew that Oscar was on the inside, he did the corner like Oscar was not there.
“For me the blame is not all on Oscar, this could have been avoided. I am frustrated.
“I am not angry with Oscar or Kimi, these things happen but I would not go as far as saying this is all Oscar’s fault.”
