Oscar Piastri Avoids Sanction at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Formula 1 championship leader Oscar Piastri has avoided a grid penalty for Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, despite failing to slow under yellow flags during the second practice. Piastri was summoned by the stewards on Friday night due to the incident, in which he did not slow down after Pierre Gasly’s incident at Turn 1. Violations of yellow flags usually result in a grid penalty. However, the stewards explained that there were mitigating circumstances on this occasion.According to the verdict, the yellow flag was withdrawn less than a second after the green light was visible to the driver. Technically, a breach of regulations occurred, but due to mitigating circumstances, the penalty was reduced to a reprimand. The explanation about the green light is due to how the stewards’ posts and panels are spaced on a circuit. As a green flag can only be shown to mark the end of a yellow flag, the drivers know that seeing one ahead means they must drive accordingly until they have passed that panel. Piastri leads his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, by 31 points in the championship, with eight races remaining. The McLaren team could secure the constructors’ championship this weekend. Qualifying for the race will take place on Saturday afternoon.The stewards explained that the yellow flag was displayed at stewards’ post 1.2 and the green light was displayed on light panel 3. The drivers were instructed that if they see a green light, they must take the action required under a yellow flag condition, even if they have not been shown the yellow flag. In this case, the driver had passed stewards’ post 1.2 when the yellow flag was first displayed, but was able to see the green light on light panel 3.
FIA Stewards
