Piastri loses front-row grid slot after penalty for impeding Magnussen

Oscar Piastri has been handed a three-place grid drop for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix after impeding Kevin Magnussen during Q1 of Saturday’s qualifying hour.

Both drivers and their respective team representatives were summoned to the stewards following the session to give their take on the incident, which unfolded when Magnussen was on his final flying lap.

READ MORE: Verstappen grabs unexpected pole position in Imola ahead of Piastri and Norris

Piastri had been exiting the pits before he impeded Magnussen at the chicane at Turns 2 and 3. At the stewards’ hearing, Piastri explained that he could not see the Haas until it was too late due to the layout at that particular area of the track, something that Magnussen also acknowledged.

While Piastri then tried to get clear of the Dane as quickly as possible, the team radio reviewed by the stewards highlighted that the McLaren team did not give their driver sufficient warning that a faster car was approaching.

In comparison, other drivers were warned of approaching cars “significantly earlier”, a note from the stewards’ hearing stated. As such, this lack of warning was the cause of Piastri “unnecessarily impeding” Magnussen.

Piastri’s drop of three grid positions means that he loses his front-row slot alongside pole-sitter Max Verstappen, with the penalty moving him from P2 to P5. This in turn will promote his McLaren team mate Lando Norris to second place.

READ MORE: Piastri says ‘confidence is high’ for what McLaren can achieve in Imola after narrowly missing out on pole

Also moving up will be the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who will now line up in third and fourth respectively.