Oscar Piastri may have to serve a grid drop in the next race at Singapore after collecting a penalty in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver was handed a five-second time penalty for jumping the start at the race in Baku. The stewards noted “the video evidence clearly showed the car moving prior to the start signal for the race was given.”
However he was unable to serve the penalty as he crashed out on the first lap of the race. The stewards may therefore choose to apply a replacement penalty at the next race in Singapore. If so, it would most likely take the form of a grid drop.
The FIA penalty guidelines state drivers may receive a five- or 10-second time penalty, or a drive-through penalty, for a jump start. Piastri received the most lenient of the options.
The stewards have previously converted drivers’ time penalties into grid drops when they cannot serve them due to retirements. At the Bahrain Grand Prix Carlos Sainz Jnr was originally told his 10-second time penalty would be converted into a three-place grid drop, until the stewards realised he had in fact served the penalty before retiring from that race.
Other drivers who have received grid drops for subsequent events after retiring from races this year include Lewis Hamilton at Zandvoort and Andrea Kimi Antonelli at the Red Bull Ring.
Despite jumping the start, Piastri got away slowly and fell to last place. He then crashed out at turn five.
Fernando Alonso was also given a five-second time penalty for jumping the start. He apologised to his team on his radio and said he had been distracted by Piastri.
This article will be updated
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