Oscar Piastri Receives Three-Place Grid Penalty for Monza Qualifying Incident
Oscar Piastri will start the Italian Grand Prix from sixth after a penalty for impeding Liam Lawson during qualifying. The McLaren driver was found guilty of obstructing Lawson, affecting both their final positions.
Oscar Piastri's promising qualifying session at Monza took a hit after stewards handed him a three-place grid penalty for impeding Liam Lawson. Initially set to start third, Piastri will now begin the Italian Grand Prix from sixth.
During the closing stages of Q2, Lawson found himself frustrated and unable to advance to Q3 when he got stuck behind Piastri's McLaren, which had just exited the pits. Despite being alerted to the presence of Max Verstappen and Lawson, Piastri couldnât clear the path quickly enough for Lawson following his maneuver to let Verstappen pass.
The stewards reviewed data and heard from both drivers and their teams before deciding on the penalty. Their decision means Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, along with Verstappen, will gain a position on the grid.
Lawsonâs frustration was palpable, though he acknowledged, "We should really have had the speed to get through to Q3 anyway." His weekend was further complicated by an engine penalty, relegating him to the back of the grid regardless.
The stewards' report noted that Piastri, in car 81, was informed about the approaching Verstappen and Lawson but not specifically told they were on flying laps. As Piastri reached Turn 1, he realized Verstappen was pushing and moved aside, but this left Lawson boxed in behind him with no clear path.
Piastri remarked, "It was a tricky situation to manage. I had to brake heavily to clear the way for Max, and then found myself in an awkward spot with Liam." Despite the circumstances, the stewards concluded Piastri had inadvertently impeded Lawson.
Lawson admitted that the teamâs qualifying strategy didnât go as planned, noting they aimed to assist Verstappen in Q3 but couldnât execute due to the unexpected events. "It's not what we planned, but our qualifying was compromised anyway," he reflected.
As the race approaches, all eyes will be on how these grid adjustments influence the start at Monza, a track known for its high-speed drama.