Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner has criticised McLaren for not difficult the penalty issued to Oscar Piastri on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Piastri’s championship hopes suffered one other blow as he completed fifth in Brazil after being hit with a 10-second time penalty for colliding with Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes at Flip 1 when the race resumed following an early Security Automotive.
The FIA stewards’ determination to penalise Piastri has divided opinion within the F1 paddock. Even Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was taken out within the three-car collision, refused to pin all of the blame on the McLaren driver.
Steiner branded McLaren as his “w******” of the race throughout the newest episode of The Crimson Flags Podcast as he referred to as out the British squad for not contesting the punishment imposed on Piastri.
“Why you do not go there and at the least say one thing to the stewards?” Steiner stated.
“Even Charles Leclerc stated ‘I imply, it wasn’t Oscar’s fault.’ If the opposite driver, who was taken out, says, ‘Hey, nothing to do with him. Perhaps I used to be a bit bit too optimistic.’ He did not say that as a result of he would not admit to that one. However you already know, three large.
“At some stage with all these guidelines and interpretation, and 10 seconds as an alternative of 5 and all that stuff, the place does racing finish? We simply line up and we get away. All people will get away like they began. Just be sure you do not even take a look at anyone since you get a penalty. However the followers do not like that.”
Piastri picked up a pricey penalty for a three-way tangle in Brazil
Steiner would have fought Piastri’s case
Steiner insisted he would have fought Piastri’s nook no matter whether or not he would have been profitable as a result of he believes it is crucial for general group morale.
“I’d have gone there and I’d have flipped out,” he defined.
“It is psychological as properly. Clearly, I overdid it typically, which does not assist. However then stating the information, it exhibits that you already know what you are doing. You present this and that is incorrect. You give your perspective. Will you win it? You do not know. However you all the time must attempt. That is my opinion.
“And as you say, not solely the drivers, the entire group, the individuals at house who’ve to come back in on Monday to work once more, they know that everyone’s attempting their finest. It is not like we let it go.”
Lando Norris is now 24 factors away from Piastri with three races to go after claiming consecutive victories in Mexico Metropolis and Brazil.
