SPIELBERG, Austria — McLaren’s attempt to protest the results of qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix has been dismissed by the stewards as it was deemed to be inadmissible.
The team attempted to protest the results after the stewards deleted Oscar Piastri’s fastest lap time in Q3, dropping him from third on the grid to seventh.
After qualifying, Piastri described the decision to delete his lap as “embarrassing.”
The McLaren driver set the third fastest time behind Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, but it was deleted shortly after as all his car’s four wheels were over the white line defining the track limit on the exit of Turn Six.
After summoning McLaren team principal Andrea Stella on Saturday evening, the stewards quickly dismissed the protest.
“The subject matter of the protest was a decision (deletion of a relevant lap time in accordance with Article 12.4.1 e) of the FIA International Sporting Code) taken by the stewards,” a statement read. “A decision of the stewards is not open to protest (Article 12.3.3 ISC).
“Additionally, the protest does not meet several of the required criteria for the admissibility of a protest.
“The Stewards therefore reject the protest as it is inadmissible.”
The stewards claimed McLaren’s initial protest did not “specify any relevant regulations,” “did not specify against whom the protest was lodged” and “it did identify the concerns of the protesting party.”
In McLaren’s post-qualifying press release, Stella was quoted by the team saying he believed the vast gravel trap on the exit of Turn Six should act as the track limit, although no mention of the protest was made.
“Oscar had his best lap in Q3 — which was worth a P3 starting position — deleted by what looks to be a questionable approach to enforcing track limits,” Stella said.
“Especially, in a place like Turn Six, in which track limits are enforced by the track configuration itself. It’s a long race and we will do our best to finish higher than the current P7 spot on the grid.”