29/08/2025 18:18
McLaren has been fined €5,000 for an unusual pit-lane incident
involving Oscar Piastri and George Russell during Dutch Grand Prix
practice. As the field returned to the pit-lane following a red
flag for Alex Albon sliding wide and beaching the Williams at Turn
1, Piastri was ahead of Russell as the pair entered the pit-lane.
However, as Piastri turned into the box, he received a signal from
a McLaren mechanic, telling him to drive further on to park in
front of his own garage, as Lando Norris had yet to return. But as
Piastri swung out back into the fast lane, he was unaware that
Russell was close behind, with the two making minor contact, but
otherwise continuing on their way. The incident was at first noted
by the stewards, and then formally investigated, with the stewards
deciding that McLaren was ultimately in breach of Article 12.2.1.h
of the International Sporting Code and not Article 55.5 of the
sporting regulations Piastri was originally summoned for. In their
investigation, the stewards found that Piastri's entry to the pit
box was blocked by a mechanic pushing a jack, with Russell forced
to take evasive action after Piastri swung back out. McLaren
acknowledged that Piastri was not warned of Russell's presence and
that it could have handled the situation differently, an assessment
the stewards agreed with. As such, the team was fined €5,000, with
Piastri receiving no sporting penalty.
