Piastri loses P3 Italian GP start for impeding Lawson

Oscar Piastri will start from sixth place at the Italian Grand Prix after being given a three-place grid penalty for impeding Liam Lawson during qualifying.

The Australian had originally qualified in third position in an extremely tight session, with his first run in Q3 proving enough for that result prior to a mistake on his final attempt. However, earlier in the session he exited the pits when the Red Bull drivers were starting a flying lap, and was in the middle of the first chicane when Lawson approached, holding up the Red Bull through the second corner.

During a trip to the stewards, Piastri confirmed he had been told of the drivers approaching but was unaware they were on flying laps until it was too late.

“On leaving the pits, the driver of Car 81 was advised that ‘Verstappen, Lawson and Sainz just crossing, Sainz has pitted, Just Verstappen and Lawson, watch out for them as you join,’” the stewards’ decision read.

“The driver of Car 81 stated that he was not alerted to the fact that VER and LAW were on push laps but realized as he was almost at Turn 1 that VER was on a push lap. He slowed significantly and kept to the right to allow VER to pass but was unable to do anything to avoid impeding LAW who was close behind.”

The stewards accepted that Piastri had inadvertently held up Lawson, but that the impeding was still unnecessary and so imposed the usual three-place grid penalty, dropping Piastri to sixth place.

Both Ferrari and Max Verstappen benefit from Piastri’s penalty, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton now making up the second row on the grid, and Verstappen starting fifth ahead of Piastri.