F1 News: Oscar Piastri Makes Playful Snub To FIA After Qatar Shootout Chaos
In a remarkable display of skill, Oscar Piastri secured pole position for the Qatar GP Sprint Race, but it was his cheeky post-qualifying comment that stole the limelight after yet another race full of track limits uncertainty.
Key Takeaways
- Oscar Piastri secures pole for Qatar GP Sprint Race and makes a light-hearted comment about FIA's track limit decisions during a post-qualifying interview.
- Persistent issues with track limits and lap time deletions create drama, especially in SQ3, affecting several drivers including Verstappen and Leclerc.
- The challenges of track changes and painted curbs at Losail International Circuit are highlighted, with Piastri noting it's a universal difficulty for all drivers.
The McLaren driver, who outpaced his teammate Lando Norris and fierce competitors Max Verstappen and George Russell, couldn’t resist a playful dig at the FIA during his interview with Sky Sport F1's Naomi Schiff.
In his post-shootout interview, he said the following:
"Very, very happy. I might just give the FIA five minutes first to make sure I'm actually on pole.
"But, as long as that's ok then. No, very, very happy," he said with a grin yet subtly underscored a prevailing issue that has been a persistent narrative throughout the Qatar GP weekend: track limits and lap time deletions.
The Sprint Shootout was not devoid of its share of drama and chaos, especially in SQ3, where the majority of drivers, including Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, faced lap time deletions. Track limits have been a contentious issue throughout the weekend, and the extreme winds at the Losail International Circuit only exacerbated the challenges faced by the drivers.
He continued, discussing the track changes made earlier today:
"Yeah, it changes it a bit, I think. Also, you know, because it's a painted curb, it's impossible to know where it is. We can't see it.
"So, yeah, it makes things a bit more difficult, but obviously it's the same for everyone."
With track limits once again becoming the focus of the weekend, fans could be in for yet another confusing and tiring race as our reliance now rests on the FIA to get things right.