Piastri defends Turn 1 move in F1 Brazil GP: "I can't just disappear"

Oscar Piastri has defended his unsuccessful manoeuvre during the Brazil Grand Prix as the McLaren Formula 1 driver claimed he ‘couldn’t disappear’. 

The Australian driver attempted to take second place at Interlagos with a move on the inside of Turn 1, but he locked up and knocked Andrea Kimi Antonelli into Charles Leclerc on lap six.

It resulted in a 10-second penalty for Piastri, who eventually finished fifth, meaning he is now 24 points behind championship leader Lando Norris, who won from pole in Sao Paulo.

“In my opinion, I had a very clear opportunity up the inside,” said Piastri. “Yes, there was a lock up, but I was firmly on the apex, on the white line. I couldn't go any further left, and I can't just disappear.

“The decision is what it is. It was one of a number of difficult moments through today and this weekend, but I wouldn't have done anything differently if I had another chance.”

Piastri added he is “already pretty at peace” with the decision, but he still disagrees with it as the Australian claimed “I was pretty firmly in control” throughout the sequence. 

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Photo by: Anni Graf - Formula 1 via Getty Images

So when asked if the stewards assumed he wasn’t because of the lock up, Piastri said: “I don't know. No matter what way you look at that, I'm not sure where I'm supposed to go, because when you have that good of a run into Turn 1 and you're fully alongside, you're not just going to back out.

“I think to try and go in any deeper than I did would have been ambitious, and I was where I was.

“So I think in that scenario, if I was clearly understeering and missing the apex, then it would give me... sure, I'd understand, but the fact that I was as far left as I could have gone makes it tough.”

Although Antonelli survived the incident as the Mercedes rookie later finished second, Leclerc instantly retired after his front left tyre flew off due to suspension damage - yet the Ferrari driver doesn’t blame Piastri.

“Oscar was optimistic,” said Leclerc. “But Kimi knew that Oscar was on the inside. He kind of did the corner like Oscar was never there and for me the blame is not all on Oscar.

“Yes, it was optimistic, but this could have been avoided and I'm frustrated. At the end of the day I'm not angry with any of Oscar or Kimi, these things happen, but I wouldn't go as far as saying that it's all Oscar's fault.”