Penalty Chaos Derails Piastri as Norris Extends F1 Lead in Brazil
It was a chaotic and emotional afternoon at Interlagos as the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix delivered both triumph and heartbreak—especially for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The young Australian’s hopes of chasing down his teammate Lando Norris in the championship took another hit after a 10-second penalty cost him a potential podium finish.
Starting fourth on the grid, Piastri looked sharp in the early stages. When the safety car pulled in on Lap 6, he saw a gap and went for it—diving down the inside of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli into Turn 1. But in the tight, high-speed scramble, Piastri locked up and clipped Antonelli’s car, which then nudged Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari and sent the Monegasque driver out of the race. While all three were victims of a split-second chain reaction, the stewards judged Piastri to be “wholly responsible” and handed him a 10-second time penalty along with two penalty points on his superlicence.
From there, Piastri’s afternoon turned into a recovery mission. He served his penalty during a pit stop on Lap 39, dropping down the order before fighting back to finish fifth. It wasn’t the result he wanted—especially when his teammate Norris cruised to another commanding victory.
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After the race, Piastri admitted it had been “a tough afternoon.” He explained, “I got a really good restart and went for the inside. There was a bit of a lock-up, but I couldn’t go any further left. I can’t just disappear. It’s disappointing, but the decision is what it is.”
Many in the paddock—and even some rival drivers—felt the penalty was harsh. Leclerc, who was taken out in the chaos, defended Piastri, saying the blame shouldn’t rest entirely on him. Commentators and fans were split too—some agreed with the stewards, while others believed Antonelli left too little space.
Despite the frustration, Norris’ win means McLaren’s dominance continues. The British driver now sits 24 points clear at the top of the standings, celebrating his seventh victory of the season. With his trademark humility, Norris said afterward, “Just ignore everyone who talks crap about you. Focus on yourself and keep pushing.”
Meanwhile, Antonelli secured a brilliant P2 finish—his best yet—while Max Verstappen, starting from the pit lane, stormed through the field to claim third.
For Piastri, the road ahead is tough but not impossible. Three races remain—Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi—and while the title dream is fading, it isn’t over yet. As he put it, “The penalty was one thing, but the pace wasn’t where I wanted it. We’ll just have to regroup and fight back.”
It was one of those Brazilian weekends that reminded everyone why Formula 1 can be as cruel as it is captivating.
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