Why Oscar Piastri will not take Singapore Grand Prix grid penalty

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri failed to serve a time penalty at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and won’t have to serve a grid penalty at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. Here’s why.

Feature image credit: McLaren Racing 

Piastri had a mare at the Azerbaijan GP, last time out, after crashing in qualifying – starting ninth ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who also crashed, only to crash again on the opening lap of the race. 

The Australian jumped the start just before the lights went out in Baku, and as the McLaren driver tried to get going again, his car went into anti-stall. By the time he launched away after his troubled start, he fell to the back of the field. 

Piastri tried to make up lost places in the opening corner but locked up on the entry of turn five. He carried too much speed into the corner and couldn’t avoid the barrier. 

It had the opportunity to tighten up the championship, especially for his teammate, who suffered a DNF in the Dutch Grand Prix due to a mechanical failure. However, Norris’ seventh-place finish only meant the Briton cut the gap down to 25 points, whilst Red Bull Max Verstappen’s victory now puts him 69 points behind the championship leader. 

Singapore GP Preview: Max Verstappen’s resurgence and McLaren’s title hopes

Having jumped the start, Piastri was given a five-second time penalty for the incident and he was never going to serve it after his retirement on lap 1. 

As has been the case previously, drivers who have been given a time penalty – but not served – can be converted into a grid drop at the next race that they race. 

However, in the FIA’s stewards’ guidelines document, which was published earlier this year for transparency on how the driving standards are applied, it claims that where a single five-second time penalty was given but not served, it will not be converted into a grid penalty. 

In Article 8, it states: 

“In cases where there is a single 5s penalty which a driver is unable to serve due to retirement, the Stewards will not convert that into a grid penalty for a subsequent race.”

However, it does go on to say that if there were more than one penalty, a grid drop could be applied at the next race, taking into account all penalties given.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was also given a five-second time penalty for jumping the start, in reaction to Piastri’s launch, but the Spaniard served his penalty. 

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Singapore GP Preview: Max Verstappen’s resurgence and McLaren’s title hopes
• Lewis Hamilton confirms passing of Roscoe
• Constructors championship: What does McLaren need to win title in Singapore?
• Singapore Grand Prix: the latest weather report
• Oscar Piastri apologises to McLaren after troubled Azerbaijan Grand Prix
• Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have diverted trip home after Azerbaijan Grand Prix

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.