Piastri hits back at Sao Paulo stewards: ‘I can’t just disappear’

Oscar Piastri has fired back at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix stewards’ decision to punish him for his bold move on Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the race’s restart, insisting he had every right to go for the inside line and that there was simply nowhere else to go.

The McLaren driver found himself at the centre of controversy on lap six when he lunged down the inside of Turn 1 in a three-wide battle with Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

The move ended in a contact that spun Antonelli into Leclerc, forcing the Ferrari out and earning Piastri a 10-second penalty.

Despite the setback, Piastri recovered to finish fifth – but the Aussie refused to take the blame lying down.

A Clear Inside Opportunity

“In my opinion, I had a very clear opportunity up the inside,” said the McLaren driver after the race.

“Yes, there was a lock up, but I was firmly on the apex, on the white line. I couldn’t go any further left, and I can’t just disappear.

“The decision is what it is. It was one of a number of difficult moments through today and this weekend, but I wouldn’t have done anything differently if I had another chance.”

While the stewards deemed his overtake too aggressive, the Australian stood by his racing instincts, maintaining that he was in control of his McLaren throughout the sequence.

“I’m already pretty at peace with the decision,” he continued.

“But I was pretty firmly in control. No matter what way you look at that, I’m not sure where I’m supposed to go, because when you have that good of a run into Turn 1 and you’re fully alongside, you’re not just going to back out.

“I think to try and go in any deeper than I did would have been ambitious, and I was where I was. So I think in that scenario, if I was clearly understeering and missing the apex, then it would give me... sure, I’d understand.

“But the fact that I was as far left as I could have gone makes it tough.”

Leclerc: ‘It’s not all Oscar’s fault’

While Piastri’s penalty left him frustrated, he at least found an unlikely ally in Leclerc – the driver who lost out most in the incident.

The Ferrari star, who was eliminated on the spot with suspension damage, defended Piastri’s intent and questioned Antonelli’s positioning in the corner.

“Oscar was optimistic,” Leclerc admitted. “But Kimi knew that Oscar was on the inside. He kind of did the corner like Oscar was never there and for me the blame is not all on Oscar.

“Yes, it was optimistic, but this could have been avoided and I’m frustrated. At the end of the day I’m not angry with any of Oscar or Kimi, these things happen, but I wouldn’t go as far as saying that it’s all Oscar’s fault.”

• Read also: Norris dedicates Sao Paulo win to mentor – admits to fresh mindset

Despite the 10-second penalty and the lost podium opportunity, Piastri’s defiance shows a driver still brimming with confidence – and unwilling to retreat when a chance presents itself.

The Australian now trails teammate and title rival Lando Norris by 24 points with three rounds to go, but his fighting spirit remains unshaken.

For Piastri, São Paulo was less about a misjudged move and more about making a statement: he’s still here to fight – even when the margins are razor-thin.

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