Violations of track limits, which occur when drivers put all four wheels over the white line that marks the edge of the track, gained significant attention in Spielberg last year due to the high number of incidents – an impressive 1,200 violations occurred during the race alone.
This year, gravel tracks were implemented outside turns nine and ten. However, Piastri got into trouble with the stewards for allegedly exceeding track limits in turn six.
McLaren filed a protest against Piastri’s penalty. Team principal Andrea Stella explained their decision to Sky Sports, stating: “We wanted to thoroughly examine the evidence to determine if the car clearly exceeded track limits. We cannot confidently assert that this limit was surpassed. Two key principles are at play here. Firstly, the system used must possess sufficient accuracy, and secondly, the methodology employed for one car must be applicable to all cars. For example, if a helicopter view is used to assess one car, it must be used for all cars.”
Stella emphasized that McLaren generally supports the FIA and recognizes their efforts, but in this particular case, they do not agree that the car exceeded track limits beyond any reasonable doubt.
Piastri expressed his frustration during an interview with Sky Sports television, stating: “It’s embarrassing for me. We put so much effort into respecting the track limits, implementing gravel in specific areas, and yet my lap was invalidated even though I stayed on the track. It was probably my best performance at Turn Six, and it was nullified. I can’t understand why they spent considerable resources trying to modify the last two turns when there are still turns where drivers can go off track… There is no valid reason for this turn to have track limit issues, especially when I stayed on the track as I did, without going into the gravel.”
He continued: “I find it embarrassing that we are constantly pushing the limits of what we can achieve, and if I had deviated just one centimeter, I would have ended up in the gravel, completely ruining my lap.”
Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, secured second place in qualifying and will start alongside Red Bull’s three-time world champion, Max Verstappen, who emerged victorious in Saturday’s sprint from pole position, with Piastri finishing in second.
At the time of publishing this article, the outcome of McLaren’s protest has not yet been announced. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, Additional reporting by GrandPrix247)
