Silverstone, England — Oscar Piastri expressed mixed emotions after a second-place finish at the British Grand Prix, acknowledging that his request for team orders at McLaren would have been unfair to his teammate, Lando Norris. The Australian driver was handed a 10-second penalty for an infraction during the safety car period that effectively cost him the race victory.
Piastri had been leading when the safety car came in on lap 21, but his late braking on the Hangar Straight nearly caused a collision with Max Verstappen, leading to the penalty from FIA stewards for erratic driving. After serving the penalty, Piastri found himself behind Norris and requested that McLaren allow him to race his teammate for the lead, a wish that was ultimately denied by the team.
“I thought I would ask the question,” Piastri said, reflecting on his request for team orders. He admitted he knew the team would not agree to the swap but hoped for a sliver of hope. “I just wanted to get it back. But no, I knew it wasn’t going to happen.”
Despite the disappointment, Piastri recognized that Norris had done nothing wrong and supported the team’s decision. He emphasized that it wouldn’t be fair to swap positions since both drivers had been racing competitively.
Looking ahead, the 24-year-old Australian remains optimistic about his championship hopes despite the setback. “This doesn’t change much for the championship. I feel like I did a good job today,” he stated. “It’s frustrating because I believe I deserved more, especially after driving a strong race.”
Piastri’s frustration was evident post-race, as he congratulated Norris but avoided discussing the competitive nature between them during the news conference. Instead, he pivoted the attention to Nico Hülkenberg, who finally accomplished a podium finish after 239 races, asking, “How does it feel after 15 years of F1 racing to stand on the podium, especially with a trophy made out of LEGO?”
Hülkenberg responded with humor and gratitude, highlighting the value of the accomplishment while also noting that a more traditional trophy would have been a nice touch.
As the season continues, Piastri’s resolve to use this disappointment as motivation for future races suggests that he remains a strong contender in the championship fight, eyeing more opportunities to capitalize on his skills and experiences gained from each race.