Piastri Cleared! FIA Delivers Verdict on Baku VSC Incident, McLaren Breathes Sigh of Relief

The tension was palpable in the paddock during Friday's practice sessions for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as McLaren's rising star, Oscar Piastri, found himself under the watchful eye of the FIA stewards. The young Australian was called to explain an alleged breach of safety car procedures during the second free practice session (FP2) in Baku, an incident that could have cast a significant shadow over his weekend.

The controversy unfolded when Piastri was accused of overtaking Kevin Magnussen's Haas under Virtual Safety Car (VSC) conditions.

Such a violation typically carries a penalty, ranging from a grid drop to a time penalty during the race, which would have been a frustrating setback for the promising driver and his team, especially after a strong start to the weekend.

However, McLaren swiftly mounted a robust defense. Their argument centered on Piastri's interpretation of Magnussen's actions.

The team presented evidence, including crucial telemetry data and radio communications, suggesting that Piastri genuinely believed Magnussen was slowing down considerably to enter the pit lane. This perception, they argued, led to Piastri's maneuver, which was not intended as an opportunistic overtake under restricted conditions.

After a thorough review, including discussions with both drivers and analyzing all available data, the stewards delivered their verdict – and it was a sigh of relief for the McLaren camp.

The official decision stated that Piastri had "taken reasonable action to avoid overtaking" and acknowledged that Magnussen had indeed slowed "significantly" on the approach to the pit lane entry. Consequently, the FIA concluded that no further action was warranted against Oscar Piastri.

This ruling is a significant boost for Piastri, who can now fully focus on the remainder of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend without the threat of a penalty looming over him.

It also highlights the intricate and often subjective nature of race control decisions. With McLaren demonstrating strong pace in FP2, particularly with Lando Norris topping the session and Piastri securing a respectable sixth place, the team will be eager to translate this momentum into a successful qualifying and race performance, unburdened by earlier investigations.