The Interlagos weekend started as a showcase for McLaren, but Oscar Piastri ran headfirst into a harsh dose of reality. During the early laps of the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix, the Australian was handed a penalty following contact with Kimi Antonelli, also involving Charles Leclerc, with stewards ruling him “fully responsible” for the incident. The punishment: 10 seconds added to his race time and 2 license points, bringing his total to six over the past twelve months, according to FIA reports.

The incident happened on lap 6, after the restart under the Safety Car. Antonelli defended position while Leclerc attacked on the outside and Piastri went for the inside. However, the Australian locked his front-left tire, triggering a chain collision that took the Ferrari out of the race. The initial penalty was served during his first pit stop, but after a technical review and FIA driving guideline assessment, the points were added, confirming that Piastri’s maneuver failed to meet the standards for a clean inside overtake.

The official FIA report stated: “At Turn 1, car 81 (Oscar Piastri) attempted an inside pass on car 12 (Kimi Antonelli). He did not establish the required overlap before or at the apex, as his front axle was not aligned with car 12’s mirror. Piastri locked the brakes trying to avoid contact but hit Antonelli, who then struck car 16 (Charles Leclerc), forcing retirement. Piastri was therefore fully responsible for the collision.”

While the rules suggest three points as a standard, the FIA applied only two, taking into account the lack of intent and the attempt to avoid impact. Sporting consequences were significant: Piastri, running second behind Lando Norris, dropped to seventh after serving his penalty. He clawed back to finish fifth behind George Russell, limiting championship damage but losing ground to Norris, who claimed both the Sprint and main race victories.The outcome leaves McLaren with mixed emotions: Norris consolidates his championship lead, while Piastri faces extra pressure not only for lost points but also for a moment that could impact his reputation as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.