Oscar Piastri: “I still love Silverstone, even if today I don’t like it so much”
In a British Grand Prix marked by chaotic weather and numerous twists and turns, the Australian driver drove a solid race, punctuated by fine attacks, intelligent strategy... and a controversial restart. He finished second, behind team-mate Lando Norris, but retained the lead in the world championship.
Qualified on the front row alongside Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri wasted no time. From the first laps, he clung to the back of the Red Bull before taking the advantage in the rain. After a few laps of battling, he settled in front with authority, once again demonstrating his ease in changing conditions.
Capricious weather and controlled strategy
The intermittent rain disrupted the race throughout the day, making tire decisions crucial. McLaren navigated perfectly between the wet and dry track phases, allowing Oscar Piastri to stay in the leading group. Despite several neutralizations, including a Virtual Safety Car, he held his ground, keeping Max Verstappen at bay… until things got complicated.
The key episode of the race occurs at the restart, as Oscar Piastri is ahead of Max Verstappen under the Safety Car. The Australian driver suddenly brakes on the straight, surprising (and angering) the Dutchman. The incident will earn him a 10-second penalty for behavior deemed dangerous. Despite this, Oscar Piastri manages to hold onto his second place at the finish, thanks to the gap he created over his pursuers.
A frustrating second place
Under the checkered flag, Oscar Piastri finishes just a few seconds behind Lando Norris. While he had to yield the victory to his British teammate, this second place is worth gold in the race for the title. He retains the championship lead with 234 points, eight points ahead of Lando Norris, now his main rival.
« I won’t say too much, otherwise I’ll get into trouble », said Oscar Piastri after the race, referring to the incident under Safety Car. « Congratulations to Nico [Hülkenberg], he’s the story today. »
Apparently, we’re no longer allowed to brake behind the safety car. I had done it for five laps before, but I’m not going to say more, otherwise I’ll get in trouble. I still love Silverstone, even though today, I don’t like it too much.
If the penalty made headlines, his overall performance confirms that he is today one of the pillars of the grid. And Silverstone could well mark a turning point in this already exciting season.
