Guenther Steiner blasts McLaren F1 team for not contesting Oscar Piastri penalty

Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner has criticised McLaren for not difficult the penalty issued to Oscar Piastri on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Piastri’s championship hopes suffered one other blow as he completed fifth in Brazil after being hit with a 10-second time penalty for colliding with Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes at Flip 1 when the race resumed following an early Security Automotive.

The FIA stewards’ choice to penalise Piastri has divided opinion within the F1 paddock. Even Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was taken out within the three-car collision, refused to pin all of the blame on the McLaren driver.

Steiner branded McLaren as his “w******” of the race throughout the newest episode of The Purple Flags Podcast as he referred to as out the British squad for not contesting the punishment imposed on Piastri.

“Why you do not go there and not less than say one thing to the stewards?” Steiner mentioned.

“Even Charles Leclerc mentioned ‘I imply, it wasn’t Oscar’s fault.’ If the opposite driver, who was taken out, says, ‘Hey, nothing to do with him. Perhaps I used to be a bit bit too optimistic.’ He did not say that as a result of he would not admit to that one. However you realize, three vast.

“At some stage with all these guidelines and interpretation, and 10 seconds as a substitute of 5 and all that stuff, the place does racing finish? We simply line up and we get away. Everyone will get away like they began. Just remember to do not even have a look at anyone since you get a penalty. However the followers do not like that.”

Steiner would have fought Piastri’s case

Steiner insisted he would have fought Piastri’s nook no matter whether or not he would have been profitable as a result of he believes it can be crucial for total crew morale.

“I’d have gone there and I’d have flipped out,” he defined.

“It is psychological as properly. Clearly, I overdid it generally, which does not assist. However then stating the information, it exhibits that you realize what you are doing. You present this and that is fallacious. You give your standpoint. Will you win it? You do not know. However you at all times should attempt. That is my opinion.

“And as you say, not solely the drivers, the entire crew, the individuals at dwelling who’ve to come back in on Monday to work once more, they know that everyone’s making an attempt their greatest. It isn’t like we let it go.”

Lando Norris is now 24 factors away from Piastri with three races to go after claiming consecutive victories in Mexico Metropolis and Brazil.