Oscar Piastri handed damaging grid penalty for Italian Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the Italian Grand Prix after being found guilty of impeding during qualifying at Monza.

The McLaren driver ended qualifying in third place and was due to start on the second row of the grid, behind Pierre Gasly and George Russell.

However, Piastri was facing an investigation from the stewards, who appeared to hold up Liam Lawson during Q2.

Lawson felt that his lap was significantly hindered as a result and the New Zealander failed to progress into the top 10 shootout.

After the session, Piastri went to see the stewards, who determined that the Australian was at fault.

Detailing their verdict, the stewards said: “On leaving the pits, the driver of Car 81 was advised that “Verstappen, Lawson and Sainz just crossing, Sainz has pitted, Just Verstappen and Lawson, watch out for them as you join”. 

“The driver of Car 81 stated that he was not alerted to the fact that VER and LAW were on push laps but realised as he was almost at turn 1 that VER was on a push lap. He slowed significantly and kept to the right to allow VER to pass but was unable to do anything to avoid impeding LAW who was close behind. 

“The Stewards accept that with the information he had, and the situation he was placed in, the driver of Car 81 had, at this stage, no other options available and hence, inadvertently, and also unnecessarily, impeded Car 30.

“Therefore the standard penalty of a drop of 3 grid positions is imposed.”

Piastri's penalty means Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will all move up one place each.