McLaren failed an attempted protested of the qualifying results at the Austrian Grand Prix after Oscar Piastri’s lap time was deleted for exceeding track limits.
Piastri set the third fastest time at the end of Q3 but then saw his final attempt deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 6. The corner in question has an exit curb that is followed by a large gravel trap, and footage appeared to show that Piastri marginally crossed the white line with all four wheels while not touching enough of the gravel to lose lap time.
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After being demoted to seventh on the grid, the Australian called the situation “embarrassing” given the proximity of the gravel and how that would penalize any driver that goes wider than the exit curb, but the FIA still deletes lap times even if cars go into the gravel because they have left the track.
McLaren’s team principal visited the stewards immediately after the end of the qualifying session to discuss the issue, and the team then lodged an official protest of the results at the Red Bull Ring.
Later, the stewards deemed the protest inadmissible, because a decision of the stewards is not open to protest, and McLaren did not specify any relevant regulations or who the protest was lodged against, as well as addressing it to the wrong administrator.
The outcome of qualifying stands, with Piastri starting from seventh place on Sunday.