Oscar Piastri penalized three places on the Imola grid

The Australian hampered the Dane when leaving the pits. From the Tamburello chicane, Piastres was in slow motion on the trajectory, forcing Magnussen to come out slightly wide, and wasting time. The pilot Haas did not then progress to Q2, while the resident of the stable McLaren finished the session in second place, behind Max Verstappen.

Frustration for Magnussen 😤

And after a stewards' review, a three-place grid penalty for Piastri ⬇️#F1 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/v6tuBN799D

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 18, 2024

Oscar Piastri will therefore have to start from fifth position on the grid this Sunday. A penalty that suits his teammate Lando Norris, now present on the front line. Charles Leclerc et Carlos Sainz will be able to benefit from a 100% second line Ferrari, in front of the many Tifosi present at Imola this weekend.

The FIA ​​stewards considered that Piastri had hampered Magnussen in a manner " useless ", adding that “Piastri's team did not warn him of Magnussen's presence until it was too late. There was a speed difference of 140 km/h when Piastri was briefed, and Magnussen was only 40 to 50 meters behind. As a result, Piastri was in the middle of the chicane when Magnussen caught him. »

The stewards also said it was clear the Danish driver was on a fast lap, where the Australian was exiting the pit lane. McLaren should therefore have warned its driver earlier, so that he could move away as much as possible. Something easier said than done on a winding Imola circuit, and above all very narrow for modern Formula 1 cars, which are two meters wide!

Fifth on the grid, Oscar Piastri will finally share the third row with the Mercedes by George Russell.

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