Formula 1 had a moment of tension in FP3 of the Japanese GP, but Oscar Piastri ended up escaping a more severe punishment after an incident with Nico Hulkenberg. The McLaren driver received only a warning from the stewards in Suzuka.
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The FIA’s decision avoided a direct impact on the Australian’s qualifying, who had been under investigation for possible impeding. The episode drew attention due to the risk involved, especially in a high-speed section of the Japanese circuit.
The incident happened at the start of the session, when Hulkenberg was approaching on a fast lap. The Audi driver found Piastri’s car ahead of him in the region between turns 14 and 15, passing through 130R.
According to the stewards’ report, car number 81 was making movements on the track to warm up the tires in that section. Even with the team’s warning about the rival’s approach, Piastri remained on the racing line for longer than necessary.
When Hulkenberg reached the point of approach, he had to lift off and brake to avoid contact. The speed difference between the cars was significant, with the FIA highlighting a closing speed of about 75 km/h.
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The McLaren driver explained that he received the warning and saw his opponent in the mirrors, but judged that he still had enough time to complete the warm-up procedure and move off the line. According to him, the perception of distance did not reflect the actual closing speed.
Piastri also pointed to limitations in the virtual mirror system as a contributing factor. He stated that the feature’s refresh rate does not allow for a correct assessment of the closing speed of current cars.
Despite this, the Australian himself recognized that he ended up unnecessarily hindering his opponent. The FIA considered the context and chose to apply only a warning, without a sporting penalty.
With the decision, Piastri remains cleared for qualifying without any penalty on the starting grid. The episode, however, reinforces the challenges of sharing the track with today’s fastest Formula 1 cars and the need for adjustments in communication and driver perception in traffic situations.
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