McLaren’s Protest Over Piastri’s Qualifying Lap Deletion at Austrian GP Rejected by FIA Stewards

The FIA has dismissed McLaren's appeal regarding the outcome of the Austrian Grand Prix qualifying session.

The FIA stewards have rejected McLaren's appeal regarding the outcome of the F1 Austrian Grand Prix qualifying session.

Formula 1 officials dismissed McLaren's appeal, stating it was not permissible.

Starting from third place in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring, Piastri's lap time was invalidated by the stewards due to exceeding track limits at Turn 6.

The removal of the lap time resulted in Piastri securing the seventh position in qualifying instead of the third

After reviewing the footage from off the track, there were uncertainties about whether Piastri had indeed gone beyond the track boundaries.

Sky Sports’ Anthony Davidson also expressed skepticism about whether Piastri had all four wheels beyond the white line at Turn 6.

Consequently, McLaren filed a complaint, but it was dismissed.

The Complete Decision of the Stewards

Process

1. On June 29, 2024, after the Provisional Classification for the Qualifying session of the Austrian Grand Prix was released, the McLaren Formula 1 Team filed a protest regarding the removal of a lap time (1:04.786) set by Oscar Piastri in Q3.

2. The Stewards initially held a hearing with McLaren to assess whether the Protest was acceptable.

3. Attendees at this Hearing included Team Principal Andrea Stella and Team Manager Randeep Singh.

Acceptability

4. The protest was submitted in writing, as required by Article 13.4.1 of the International Sporting Code (ISC).

5. A deposit of EUR 2,000 accompanied the protest, in line with Article 13.4.2 ISC.

6. The protest was directed to the Clerk of the Course instead of the Chairperson of the Stewards, per Article 13.5.1 ISC.

7. The protest did not reference any relevant regulations, contrary to Article 13.4.1 ISC.

8. It also failed to specify against whom the protest was lodged, as required by Article 13.4.1 ISC.

9. However, the protest did outline the concerns of the protesting party, as stipulated in Article 13.4.1 ISC.

Stewards' Conclusions

10. The issue at hand was a decision made by the Stewards to delete a lap time according to Article 12.4.1(e) of the FIA International Sporting Code. Such decisions by the Stewards are not subject to protest under Article 12.3.3 ISC.

11. Furthermore, the protest did not fulfill several criteria necessary for its acceptance (see points 6 to 8 above).

12. Consequently, the Stewards found the protest to be inadmissible and rejected it.

13. As a result, the protest deposit is forfeited.

Piastri expressed his anger over the removal, calling the enforcement of track boundaries "shameful".

Daniel Ricciardo was taken aback by the officials' choice to keep an eye on track limits at Turn 6, considering that going off the track there would already result in a time penalty because of the gravel.

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