The 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone will go down in history as one of the most controversial races of the season, largely due to an incident that set the Formula 1 world ablaze. Oscar Piastri, the Australian driver for McLaren, was widely accused of unsportsmanlike conduct after a deliberate braking maneuver behind the safety car, which put Max Verstappen in a precarious position. The FIA ​​took strong action, imposing a 10-second time penalty on Piastri, along with two penalty points on his superlicense, for what is already being labeled a “cheating technique.” This incident, which occurred on lap 21, cost Piastri victory and propelled Lando Norris to the top step, while Verstappen saw his chances of a podium finish vanish.

The race started with Verstappen on pole, but it quickly became clear that the McLarens of Piastri and Norris were superior in the wet conditions. Piastri took the lead on lap 7, while Verstappen struggled with the balance of his Red Bull RB21, which was set up for dry conditions. When a safety car was deployed following Isack Hadjar’s crash, Piastri, as the leader, was given the responsibility to set the pace. What followed was a shocking action: according to FIA telemetry, Piastri braked abruptly from 218 km/h to 52 km/h on Hangar Straight, just after the safety car lights had gone out. Verstappen, who was right behind him, had to swerve to avoid a collision and briefly passed Piastri, which is against the rules. A few corners later, Verstappen spun at Stowe, partly due to the imbalance of his car and the surprise of Piastri’s maneuver.

The stewards were unforgiving. According to article 55.15 of the FIA ​​regulations, the leader is prohibited from making unpredictable or dangerous maneuvers behind the safety car. Piastri’s abrupt braking, with a brake pressure of 59.2 psi, was considered a clear violation. The 10-second penalty, which he served in the pit lane, and the two penalty points on his superlicense sparked heated debate. Piastri himself was furious, calling the penalty “grossly unfair.” He told his race engineer, Tom Stallard, over the radio: “I’m not saying anything, or I’ll be banned for a year.” He even suggested that McLaren should swap positions with Norris to ensure a fair race, but the team ignored this suggestion. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, in turn, hinted that Verstappen was exaggerating, possibly making the situation seem worse to provoke a penalty.

Verstappen himself was surprisingly lenient about the penalty. After the race, in which he finished fifth, he told Viaplay: “It has happened to me a few times that someone does that, but 10 seconds is very extreme. I don’t make the rules.” He denied that Piastri’s action directly led to his spin, but pointed to the poor balance of his car and the difficult tire temperatures in the rain. Nevertheless, Verstappen was happy for his friend Nico Hülkenberg, who achieved his first podium. “That was the highlight of the day,” he said with a smile.

The international media and fans were divided. Some praised the FIA ​​for cracking down on what they saw as a deliberate attempt by Piastri to destabilise Verstappen, while others, like analyst Peter Windsor, understood Piastri’s frustration. Windsor called Piastri’s radio message requesting a position swap “intelligent” and criticised McLaren’s choice to administer the penalty during the pit stop. Posts on X reflected the division, with some calling Piastri’s action “outrageous” and evidence of McLaren’s “cheating technique”, while others believed Verstappen was exaggerating and the penalty excessive.

For McLaren, the race was a triumph, with Norris and Piastri finishing 1-2 despite the controversy. Piastri retained his championship lead with 234 points, eight ahead of Norris, while Verstappen fell further behind, 69 points behind. For Sauber, Hulkenberg’s podium was a historic milestone, while Verstappen already had his sights set on Spa. Piastri’s “cheating technique” will be talked about for a long time, however, with questions raised over sportsmanship and the consistency of FIA penalties. Silverstone 2025 was a race of both heroics and controversy, and the Piastri-Verstappen rivalry is now hotter than ever.