Oscar Piastri Penalised 10-Second British GP Safety Car Infringement

During the 2025 British Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri received a 10-second penalty and two penalty points for erratically braking during the Safety Car restart on lap 21, which the stewards ruled endangered other drivers, notably Max Verstappen. Piastri slowed abruptly from 218 km/h to 52 km/h, forcing Verstappen to take evasive action, resulting in Verstappen spinning and losing positions. Verstappen's frustrated radio message, captured live, highlighted his anger over Piastri's sudden deceleration, while McLaren communicated internally about the penalty and race strategy. McLaren CEO Zak Brown indicated the team was considering an appeal, suggesting the incident was more nuanced than it appeared on television. Former world champion Damon Hill criticized Piastri's move, saying it unfairly benefited teammate Lando Norris by removing the need to overtake Verstappen. The penalty cost Piastri a potential race victory, allowing Norris to finish ahead, intensifying the rivalry between McLaren and Red Bull in a fiercely contested season.