McLaren has decided to lodge a protest against the qualifying result of the Austrian Grand Prix. The English team questions the best time deleted from Oscar Piastri in Q3, for failure to respect the track limits at turn 6. This decision caused the Australian driver to fall from third to seventh place on the starting grid. .
After the session, Oscar Piastri was the first to show discontent and incomprehension, even judging the situation “embarrassing” for Formula 1. He particularly deplored the fact that the problem of track limits has been solved in several corners of the Red Bull Ring thanks to the installation of gravel areas, but that this is not the case everywhere.
At McLaren, the protest is primarily about understanding how the rule was applied in this specific case. The team is demanding clear proof that its driver’s car was indeed over the white line, as the situation is apparently very unclear. The FIA was unable to provide any images to prove it, which precipitated the decision by team principal Andrea Stella.
“We have filed a complaint but there has not been a hearing yet, because we want to have the opportunity to continue this conversation”he said. “Our approach to racing means we don’t want to suffer what we don’t deserve. When the penalty is this severe, there needs to be clear proof, in the interest of the sport, not that of McLaren.”
“We asked for clarification, particularly because we wanted to see proof that the car was beyond track limits when there is reasonable doubt. I can’t say that this doubt is satisfactory. There are principles. One is that the system used must provide appropriate resolution, the other is that the methodology used for one car must apply to all the others. If you use a helicopter view for one car, you should do it for all the cars where possible.”
“Usually we fully support the FIA. We always accept that everyone tries to do their best. But in this specific case, we could not agree that the car was beyond the track limits because of the doubt, and the two conditions that have to be met that I have just mentioned. So the discussion is still ongoing.”
The FIA and the stewards of the Austrian Grand Prix therefore still have work to do, especially as another file is on the table, in a completely different register and targeting Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver lost his temper on the radio when he was overtaken in the pit lane in Q1, using the term“mentally retarded” to attack other drivers, including Zhou Guanyu. He could be sanctioned under Article 12.2.1 k) of the FIA International Sporting Code.
