Oscar Piastri stated it was robust to obtain a penalty after colliding with Kimi Antonelli on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, leaving him fifth and dropping additional within the drivers’ championship.
Stewards handed Piastri a 10-second time penalty for inflicting contact with Antonelli throughout the three-wide entry into Flip 1 after the protection automotive restart. Piastri was on the within and Antonelli within the center, however the ensuing contact eradicated Charles Leclerc. The McLaren driver believes he was in full management all through the incident.
“For my part, there was a really clear likelihood on the within, so I went for it. Sure, there was a lockup, however I used to be firmly on high, on the white line. I could not go any additional to the left, I could not simply disappear,” Piastri stated. “That is how selections are made. It was one among many troublesome moments between right now and this weekend, however I do not assume I’d have finished something in a different way if I had had one other likelihood.”
“I would undoubtedly wish to say I used to be going backwards, however I feel it was as a result of the opposite two vehicles have been sluggish to brake. It was just a little bit moist on the within, so I used to be most likely just a little extra cautious. Clearly once you’re on the surface, you possibly can transfer extra freely.”
“We had one other lock-up, however the truth that we have been capable of keep on the within white line with the lock-up meant that if we might keep our line, we have been in fairly good management.
“The best way you take a look at[the lock-up]I do not know the place to go, as a result of once you run that effectively full-side in Flip 1, you possibly can’t simply go backwards. It will have been formidable to attempt to go even deeper than I did, and I am the place I’m now.”
“In that situation, if I clearly understeered and missed the apex after which hit you, I feel it could definitely be comprehensible, however the truth that I went all the way in which to the left makes it troublesome.”
Lando Norris’ victory means Piastri has moved 24 factors away from his teammate within the drivers’ championship, however the Australian admitted he’s nonetheless looking for a constant return to the shape he noticed earlier within the season.
“Issues definitely have not been simple,” he lamented. “There have been moments and moments this weekend the place I felt very comfy. Issues have been going simpler once more in apply, however over the weekend it took just a little bit away. I do not assume simply our tempo as a staff was as sturdy because it was on Friday, and the automotive was getting into a course that I did not actually like.”
“We did the whole lot we might to get the automotive operating at good occasions. The crash within the dash additionally made issues troublesome. There’s simply a number of issues going flawed in the mean time, however there are nonetheless indicators of actually sturdy tempo and (we’re) at all times making an attempt to take care of that.”
