In an unusual decision, the Federation has confirmed that Oscar Piastri’s 5-second penalty from the Azerbaijan GP will simply… vanish.
The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix marked the first real setback in Oscar Piastri’s season. The Australian McLaren driver endured a troubled weekend, making costly mistakes both in qualifying and in the race: first a crash into the barriers, then a false start that earned him a five-second penalty, and finally another crash on the opening lap of the GP.
However, his early retirement meant he was unable to serve the penalty, leading many to believe it would automatically be converted into a grid drop for the Singapore Grand Prix — as has happened in similar past cases.
Instead, in a surprise move, the FIA has announced that there will be no further consequences: the five-second penalty will not be carried over, allowing car #81 to face the Marina Bay weekend without any handicap.
A decision bound to spark debate, but certainly a sigh of relief for the 2001-born driver, who will now be looking to bounce back after a Baku GP to forget and reignite his championship fight on the notoriously tricky Singapore circuit.
Photo: McLaren, Formula 1
