McLaren believes Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli might have carried out extra to keep away from the three-way collision involving Oscar Piastri on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Piastri was given a 10-second time penalty for inflicting Antonelli, who had moved into second place, to collide with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc after the security automobile restart on lap six.
Leclerc was worn out in a three-way collision after sustaining heavy harm to his Ferrari, however Piastri and Antonelli have been in a position to proceed the race.
Antonelli took second place, however Piastri was pressured to accept fifth place, 24 factors behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris with three races left within the race for the title.
FIA stewards discovered Piastri “absolutely accountable” for the collision, however McLaren staff principal Andrea Stella felt Antonelli was equally accountable.
“I feel it was positively robust by way of penalties,” Stella stated. “Oscar, we’re positively seeing a little bit little bit of lock-up, however on the identical time he is been in a position to keep on monitor and that is what in the end issues.”
“I feel the blame needs to be shared with Kimi, as a result of Kimi knew that Oscar was on the within and possibly the collision might have been prevented. Perhaps Kimi was additionally anxious about Leclerc being on the skin. It is clearly a troublesome scenario.”
“However general, I feel the penalty for Oscar is simply too extreme to take full duty for this incident. On the identical time, I want to reiterate my respect for the stewards as a result of it is over. We settle for that and transfer on.”
McLaren supervisor Zac Brown, who was not on web site in Brazil, described the penalty as “harsh” in a social media put up.
Leclerc was pressured to retire
Leclerc additionally criticizes Antonelli
Piastri disagreed with the penalty and maintained his innocence, however Leclerc and Antonelli felt equally accountable.
“Truly, I feel you’re simply as accountable as Oscar,” Leclerc stated after retiring from the race.
“For me, it was a little bit of a 50/50 factor. Oscar was a little bit optimistic and Kimi was turning the nook like Oscar did not exist. So that they collided after which they touched me.”
“For me, not all of the blame lies with Oscar. Sure, I used to be optimistic, however this might have been prevented and I am pissed off.
“On the finish of the day, I am not mad at Oscar otherwise you. This stuff occur. However I am not going to say it is all Oscar’s fault, as a result of I do not suppose it’s.”
Antonelli expressed remorse for stopping Leclerc from racing, however insisted he did not see Monaco within the mirror.
“It was a troublesome place with one automobile on the skin and the opposite on the within,” Antonelli stated.
“I attempted to brake not too late, not too late, however the issue was that I could not see the automobile subsequent to me. I used to be making an attempt to maintain line for my place, however I ended up getting hit.
“I hit Charles fairly arduous so I used to be fortunate to get away like that. Sadly his race was over.”
