Oscar Piastri branded the decision to delete his third-fastest lap time in qualifying for the Austrian GP “embarrassing”, before McLaren’s protest against the decision was rejected.
The McLaren driver was relegated from the head of the second row to seventh after Race Control ruled he had transgressed track limits at Turn Six by going with all four wheels over the white lines that demark the edge of the track.
However, an unimpressed Piastri – who would have started Sunday’s race right behind team-mate Lando Norris, who qualified second – was far from convinced that had been the case.
McLaren shared that opinion and lodged a protest against the results of qualifying, with team boss Andrea Stella convinced his driver’s apparent transgression had not been proved “beyond reasonable doubt” by the available camera angles.
“For me, it’s embarrassing,” Piastri, who had finished second to Max Verstappen in Saturday’s earlier Sprint race, told Sky Sports F1.
“We did all of this work for track limits, put gravel in places, and I didn’t even go off the track. I stayed on the track. It was probably my best Turn Six and it gets deleted.
“I don’t know why they’ve spent hundreds of thousands trying to change the last two corners when you still have corners you can go off.
“But, anyway, everyone else kept it in the track, I didn’t. That’s how it goes.”
Asked to elaborate on what he meant by “embarrassing”, Piastri added: “That was probably the best Turn Six I took. I was right to the limit of the track; I think that’s what everyone wants to see.
“Again, we have spent so much effort trying to get rid of these problems. There is no reason this corner should be an issue for track limits, especially when you stay on the track, like I did, or not on the gravel.
“So, yeah, for me being the only one that has had that happen to me I’m probably more vocal about it right now, but I think it’s embarrassing that you see us pushing right to the limit of what we can do and one centimetre more I’m in the gravel and completely ruin my lap anyway – and it gets deleted.”
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Highlights of qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix
Track limits issues have been a recurring theme at the Red Bull Ring over recent years but officials moved to tackle the issue this year by placing strips of gravel on the outside of the circuit’s final two corners, where the problem was particularly prevalent.
Turn Six, where Piastri was judged to have gone too wide, has always had a gravel trap on the outside.
Stewards’ reason for rejection
The protest was found to be not valid for three reasons:
- It was addressed to the Clerk of the Course and not to the Chairperson of the Stewards (Article 13.5.1 ISC)
- It did not specify any relevant regulations (Article 13.4.1 ISC)
- It did not specify against whom the protest was lodged (Article 13.4.1 ISC)
The stewards added the “protest does not meet several of the required criteria for the admissibility of a protest,” McLaren also forfeited its £1,695 (€2,000) deposit for raising the protest.
Sky Sports F1’s live Austrian GP schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Austrian Grand Prix
Sunday June 30
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian GP build-up*
2pm: The AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Austrian GP reaction*
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
F1’s triple-header continues with the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. Watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s big race at 2pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime