The Belgian Grand Prix delivered raw emotion and controversy, with Oscar Piastri voicing his strong disapproval over the stewards' decision to let Charles Leclerc off scot-free after their early-race collision. For Piastri, it was a clear case of being 'squeezed' with potentially race-ending consequences.
Key Takeaways:
- Oscar Piastri felt Charles Leclerc deserved at least a warning for their Belgian GP contact.
- Stewards ruled it a racing incident, stating Piastri lacked sufficient overlap.
- The collision caused significant floor damage to Piastri's McLaren, severely impacting his race pace.
- F1 legend Juan Pablo Montoya supported the stewards' decision, highlighting the strict "car width" rule.
Piastri's Fury: "Squeezed" and Undervalued
The eighth lap of Sunday's race saw Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc locked in a battle for third place. As the McLaren driver attempted an outside pass at Les Combes, his front-right wheel made contact with Leclerc's rear-left. The collision caused significant floor damage to Piastri's MCL40, yet the stewards chose not to investigate the incident.
A visibly frustrated Piastri voiced his concerns after the race, saying, "I was on the white line and got squeezed." He stressed how fortunate both drivers were to avoid a bigger accident, given the wheel-to-wheel contact occurred at the entry to the braking zone. "I don't really know where I was supposed to go," he added, suggesting that even a black-and-white warning flag would have been appropriate to discourage overly aggressive defending.
The Stewards' Stance: No Action
The FIA stewards provided a detailed explanation for their decision not to intervene. They ruled that Piastri's Car 81 did not have sufficient overlap with Leclerc's Car 16, as his front axle had not drawn level with Leclerc's. They also determined that Leclerc had not deliberately forced Piastri off the track, instead following the natural racing line by moving slightly left into Turn 5, making the contact unavoidable.
Montoya Weighs In: The "Car Width" Debate
Adding another perspective to the debate, seven-time Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya backed the stewards' verdict. Speaking to F1 TV, Montoya argued that Leclerc was entitled to leave only minimal room because Piastri was not sufficiently alongside to earn additional racing space.
"The rule doesn't say you need to give a car width and 20 inches so they don't touch. The rule says it's a car width," Montoya explained. He also questioned Piastri's positioning, noting that he was "half a car back before the braking," suggesting the Australian was never fully in position to complete the overtake.
The Race Aftermath: Damage Costs Piastri Dearly
While Leclerc went on to lead 13 laps before finishing second behind Kimi Antonelli, Piastri's race quickly unraveled. The floor damage proved costly, with McLaren estimating it reduced performance by two to three tenths of a second per lap. He eventually crossed the line in fifth place.
Piastri acknowledged the impact after the race, saying, "The first stint, I think the damage was the big player... it impacted the balance of the car a fair bit." Although a front-wing change helped improve the car, he admitted it remained "tricky to drive" and lacked pace toward the end of each stint—a direct consequence of the early contact.
