McLaren’s protest towards Oscar Piastri’s penalty for an alleged observe limits infringement throughout Austrian Grand Prix qualifying has been rejected by the FIA stewards as a result of it was inadmissible.
The Woking-based group had lodged a proper grievance towards the outcomes of qualifying as a result of it was sad that Piastri had been penalised and misplaced his third place on the grid.
Having sought clarification from the FIA relating to how clear the proof was towards Piastri, it stated that what are alleged to be blurry photographs from a trackside digicam and helicopter, which have been additionally impacted by shadows, had not made issues crystal clear.
Group boss Andrea Stella stated: “Our strategy to racing is we do not need what we do not deserve.
“However when the penalty is so harsh, then within the curiosity of sport – it is not within the curiosity of McLaren – there must be clear proof.”
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photographs
However following a stewards’ listening to on Saturday night, and earlier than the FIA stewards even thought-about the proof towards Piastri, the protest was rejected on procedural grounds.
Firstly, the FIA stated that, as acknowledged within the FIA’s Worldwide Sporting Code, selections taken by the stewards aren’t open to protest.
Moreover, the FIA additionally stated that some elements of the protest doc submitted meant it needed to be rejected.
These included the truth that it was addressed to the Clerk of the Course and to not the Chairperson of the Stewards, that it didn’t specify any related rules it was protesting about, didn’t specify towards whom the protest was lodged and didn’t establish the considerations of the protesting social gathering.
Andrea Stella, Group Principal, McLaren F1 Group
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
Stella had been clear that McLaren wished to ensure that Piastri had really gone exterior the white traces that outline the sting of the observe – however had not seen any proof to recommend that was confirmed.
“We wished to take a look at the proof whereby the automobile was past the observe limits past any cheap doubt,” he stated. “I can not say that the past cheap doubt is happy.”
He added: “On this case, it is simply all the things blurred and affected by the shadow.
“It is rather a lot to come back right here, compete, put collectively qualifying laps, and when the penalty is so extreme, like having the lap deleted, then we have to guarantee that the penalty is enforced past any cheap doubt.”
