Oscar Piastri was investigated by the stewards after a potential yellow flag infringement during free practice for this weekend’s Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver was deemed to have potentially ignored a yellow flag signal during FP2 at the Baku street circuit, in which he finished 12th.
Piastri faced a nervous wait to find out the stewards’ final verdict, but merely escaped with a reprimand.
It is the title-leader’s second of the season, having escaped further penalty at Monza two weeks ago for allegedly entering the fast lane in the pits under red flag conditions.
“A yellow flag was displayed at Marshal Post 1.2, and green light was shown at light panel 3,” read the stewards’ document.
“Drivers had been instructed that if they see a green light, they must take the action required under a yellow flag condition, even if they had not been shown the yellow flag.
“In this case, the driver had passed Marshal Post 1.2 when the yellow flag was shown for the first time, but was able to see the green light at light panel 3.
“The yellow flag was withdrawn less than one second after the green light became visible to the driver.
“Therefore, technically a breach of the regulations has occurred; however, because of the mitigating circumstances above, the penalty imposed is reduced to a Reprimand.
“This is consistent with previous similar incidents.”
Piastri’s reprimand compounded a tricky day for the Australian, having had a brush with the wall in the same session, after finishing a whopping three tenths adrift of team-mate Lando Norris in FP1.
However, McLaren could wrap up the Constructors’ Championship this weekend, if it can outscore rivals Ferrari by nine points.
READ MORE – Why McLaren is facing an uphill struggle in F1 Azerbaijan GP
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