McLaren defend Oscar Piastri British GP position swap request

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has defended Oscar Piastri's request to swap positions with Lando Norris in the final laps of the British Grand Prix.

Piastri led much of the race at Silverstone but was issued a 10-second time penalty for a safety car infringement.

Piastri served the penalty during his final pit stop which dropped him behind team-mate Norris, who went on to claim victory on home soil.

Prior to the chequered flag, Piastri suggested McLaren could order to swap the places back if they felt the penalty was unfair.

While the team ultimately decided against the request, Stella stated the open thinking from Piastri is exactly what the team is wanting from his drivers.

“As part of the way we go racing together, we always tell our drivers, don't keep things in the back of your mind while you drive,” Stella told media including RacingNews365.

"If you have a point, if you have a suggestion, if you want to let us know what you're thinking, just say it. And then we will evaluate [opinions from] other people, we will make a decision, we will come back to you.

"What Oscar did is exactly what we incentivised our drivers to do. He communicated, he expressed his opinion, which we evaluated.”

Safety car was Oscar Piastri's only hope

The final pit stops that saw the order at the front change came as the track transitioned from wet to dry.

Piastri was serviced first, before Norris pitted on the following lap - allowing the latter to take the lead due to his team-mate's extended pit stop time.

Stella suggested the only way Piastri could have retained the lead while also serving the penalty was if a safety car was called, which would have forced McLaren to pit both drivers on the same lap.

“The way we managed the situation given the penalty was to allow Oscar, in case of a safety car, to retain the lead, because if there had been a safety car, both cars would have pitted,” Stella said.

“Oscar would have paid the penalty, Lando would have waited, and the two McLarens would have gone out in the same order as they came in.

“But at the point in which we needed to have the transition on the dry tyres, then the penalty was paid, and at that stage we thought that he should just retain the natural order again.

“So I think this was fair for both, and I'm sure that Oscar will understand and agree with this point of view."