McLaren has launched a protest to the FIA over the choice to delete Oscar Piastri’s best lap in qualifying at Formula 1’s Austrian Grand Prix for a track limits violation.
Piastri looked to continue his positive weekend at the Red Bull Ring when he slotted into third place on the times, one place behind McLaren team-mate Lando Norris.
However, Piastri’s last lap time was then deleted as the stewards deemed that he exceeded track limits at Turn 6, with his original time demoting him back to seventh.
The Australian branded the saga as “embarrassing” as he pointed out how the circuit had authorised more gravel traps this term but not used them to define the limit.
McLaren elected to approach the FIA to receive clear evidence that Piastri was over the white line, but it has now proceeded to lodge an official protest over the result.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has claimed that the team’s action is being done “in the interest of the sport” rather than the Woking-based squad wanting to retake third.
“We launched a protest, which has been acknowledged but not been actioned yet, because we want to have the possibility to continue the conversation,” he said.
“Our approach to racing is we don’t want what we don’t deserve.
“But when the penalty is so harsh, then in the interest of sport – it’s not in the interest of McLaren – there needs to be clear evidence.”
Stella added that there was not sufficient evidence that put it past “reasonable doubt” that Piastri’s McLaren MCL38 overstepped the white line at that particular turn.
“We sought clarification in particular because we wanted to look at the evidence whereby the car was beyond the track limits beyond any reasonable doubt,” he said.
“I cannot say that the beyond reasonable doubt is satisfied. There’s a couple of principles.
“One is that the system used needs to have adequate resolution, and the second one is that the methodology used for one car needs to be applicable to all cars.
“If you use a helicopter view for a car, you need to use the helicopter view and it needs to be available for all cars.
“We are normally very supportive of the FIA. We always recognise that everyone is trying their best.
“But in this case, we couldn’t agree that the car is beyond the track limit beyond any reasonable doubt, and satisfying the two conditions I said before.
“So, the discussion is still ongoing.”
RB’s Daniel Ricciardo concurred with his compatriot’s view that gravel traps should be used to police track limits when available to discourage circumstances like this.
“I saw Oscar got his lap time deleted, that’s disappointing to see because the gravel’s there now so… Turn 6, I don’t think we need to apply that when there’s a hard limit.
“I confess I haven’t seen the replay, but I heard he broke track limits for Turn 6.
“So, if they’re doing the gravel, which I think is good, you probably then ignore the track limits because it’s not really a gain anymore.”
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