A former Formula 1 driver, Jolyon Palmer, has openly challenged the severity of the penalty given to Oscar Piastri during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Piastri received a 10-second time penalty for braking under Safety Car conditions, which led to Max Verstappen having to take evasive action. This sanction forced the McLaren driver, who was leading the race and the championship, to lose the win to teammate and title contender Lando Norris.
After the race, Piastri appeared visibly frustrated, and Palmer voiced support on the F1 Nation podcast, questioning whether the penalty was justified given the circumstances.
Detailed Defense of Piastri’s Actions Under Safety Car
Palmer explained that Piastri did not commit a significant error during the restart. He pointed out Piastri’s consistent braking to moderate speed, saying,
“I don’t think he has done anything extraordinarily wrong,”
and emphasized that the driver applied reasonable brake pressure in a controlled manner. Palmer recalled that Piastri had done something similar four laps earlier, which almost caused confusion in the field but was not penalized and went unnoticed by the FIA.
Palmer criticized the decision to punish Piastri for what he described as an “innocuous” maneuver, saying the penalty seemed disproportionately harsh. He added,
“We have been following this sport for a long time. Can you remember a single penalty for this infringement before? I can’t.”
The former driver expressed empathy for Piastri’s frustration at losing a potential British Grand Prix victory over an incident that caused minimal disruption to the race.
Comparison to George Russell’s Safety Car Conduct in Canada
The debate on Safety Car braking behavior extended to the recent Canadian Grand Prix, where George Russell sparked controversy after Red Bull lodged a protest against his driving, which was ultimately dismissed. Data revealed Russell braked with significantly less pressure than Piastri did in Britain. Palmer noted that Piastri’s braking pressure was about double Russell’s but still not excessive enough to warrant such a stiff penalty.
Palmer emphasized that Piastri maintained braking around 60 PSI consistently and
“didn’t brake as hard as he could.”
He explained,
“Formula 1 cars can brake more than double that,”
underscoring that Piastri’s actions were within reasonable limits. Palmer also highlighted that Max Verstappen, who faced no penalty, braked at similar levels while keeping control.
Current Standings and Upcoming Race Implications
Despite the controversy, Oscar Piastri continues to lead the Formula 1 championship standings, holding an eight-point advantage over Lando Norris. The focus now shifts to the Belgian Grand Prix, scheduled for the following weekend, where Piastri and his rivals will strive to regain momentum in the tightly contested season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Oscar Piastri’s family rich?
A. Oscar’s racing career received a strong push from his dad, Chris Piastri, who co-founded HP Tuners. This top automotive software company is valued at around $35 billion. The financial support required to help Oscar reach Formula 1 is estimated at $6.5 million.