Oscar Piastri’s British GP Penalty Sparks Controversy
Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer has described Oscar Piastri’s 10-second penalty during the British Grand Prix as "harsh" and questionable. The McLaren driver, who was leading at Silverstone, incurred the penalty for erratic behavior behind the safety car, which allowed Max Verstappen to temporarily overtake him.
After serving the penalty, Piastri lost his lead to teammate Lando Norris, who ultimately secured his first victory at his home race. Palmer criticized the timing and severity of the ruling, stating, "I don’t think he’s done anything extraordinarily wrong." He noted that Piastri had used similar braking tactics earlier in the race without incident, prompting questions about the inconsistency of penalties in the sport.
Palmer referenced past infractions, pointing out that similar behavior had gone unpunished: "George Russell wasn’t even investigated in Canada for something comparable." He emphasized that Piastri’s actions did not display bad intent and resulted in no significant drama during the race.
The incident has raised discussions about the consistency of officiating in Formula 1, with Palmer concluding his remarks by expressing solidarity with Piastri’s frustration over losing a race win under such circumstances.
