JUST IN: PIASTRI GIVEN THREE-PLACE GRID PENALTY AT F1 IMOLA GP FOR IMPEDING MAGNUSSEN

McLaren’s Formula 1 racer Oscar Piastri received a penalty, dropping him three places on the grid for Sunday’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix due to obstructing Kevin Magnussen during qualifying.

Piastri inadvertently blocked Magnussen at the Tamburello complex in Q1, affecting Magnussen’s final lap. Despite Piastri’s explanation of not seeing Magnussen due to the curvature of the main straight, race stewards deemed it the team’s responsibility to warn him of approaching traffic.

The stewards noted the significant speed difference and proximity between the cars, determining the incident as an “unnecessary impeding.” Consequently, Piastri’s penalty pushed him from second to fifth on the starting grid, promoting his teammates Lando Norris and both Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz up a position. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella accepted the decision, acknowledging the team’s need for better communication. Piastri remained positive about McLaren’s progress in Imola, buoyed by the upgrades to his car and optimistic about their performance despite the tight competition and challenges of overtaking at the circuit.