Did a CONTROVERSIAL PENALTY Just Decide the 2025 F1 Championship? | Brazilian GP

Turn 1, a split second, and a championship swing

Turn 1 at Interlagos is always one of those places where races are won and lost in a heartbeat. This time the moment that mattered involved Oscar Piastri, Kimi Antonelli, and an unfortunate chain reaction that left Charles Leclerc out of the race. Oscar locked up, made contact with Antonelli and then, moments later, the stewards handed down a 10 second penalty that dropped Oscar down the order.

I was meters away on the inside of Turn 1 as Oscar came hurtling past. From that angle it looked like a genuine racing incident — high speed, limited room, and a driver doing everything he could to manage an emergency. Whether you saw it from the cockpit, from the grandstands, or up close like I did, the sequence unfolds in a fraction of a second but carries consequences that can last the rest of the season.

Why the penalty sparked controversy

The reaction across the paddock and among fans was immediate. A poll I ran showed around 66% of people felt Oscar did not deserve a penalty. Some experienced voices agreed. Jacques Villeneuve called it a racing incident and suggested Antonelli was spatially unaware. Jamie Chadwick said the incident did not merit a full 10 second penalty. Even the driver who lost out, Charles Leclerc, indicated he did not lay the blame solely at Oscar’s door.

Stewards ruled that Oscar didn’t have control of the car when contact occurred. That interpretation is strict and not unusual in modern stewarding, but it’s also one that divides opinion because it treats loss of control more like a driver error than a racing circumstance. The net effect was clear: the penalty cost Oscar track position and crucial points.

Championship maths: why this one penalty matters

Before you write off either driver, here is the simple arithmetic that shows why this penalty is more than a talking point. Oscar now trails Lando Norris by 24 points with three races and one sprint race remaining. In the current scoring scenario, if Oscar were to win every remaining race and Lando finished second in each, Lando would still clinch the title.

That is a cold, unforgiving reality. For Oscar to overturn this deficit he will need near-perfect results, plus a run of misfortune for Lando. Motorsport can flip on a single race, but at this stage the path back is narrow. If Lando’s lead exceeds 25 points after the next event, the title could be wrapped up early and the 2025 championship decided.

Not all the headlines were about the title

São Paulo produced plenty of other moments that reminded everyone why F1 is such a dramatic spectacle. One of the scariest scenes of the weekend involved local driver Gabriel Bortoleto. At speed during the sprint, his rear wing remained open, he became unstable, and the resulting impact measured around 57 G. Remarkably, he walked away.

I asked an engineer how a DRS wing closes, because many fans think it is a button. There are actually two automatic triggers: the wing closes when the driver’s throttle is below 70 percent or when the brake is applied. Gabriel did neither during that manoeuvre, which is why the wing stayed open and the car became unstable. That the car and the tyre barriers did their job is a big testament to modern safety engineering.

Small moments that make a big weekend

Racing weekends are built of a thousand small stories. The drivers parade in São Paulo was one of them — instead of the usual flatbed truck procession, drivers hopped into tiny cars and raced up the main straight. The atmosphere was electric. A few cars stopped, some drivers shared seats with rivals, and there were some memorable pairings like George Russell next to Max Verstappen — a seating arrangement that makes for awkward selfies and great fodder for the paddock.

There were human moments too. Franco Colapinto was mobbed by fans, flares and all. He later had to be shepherded back for safety because the crowd was so enthusiastic. And behind the scenes, a quiet touch: Gabriel’s grandmother, who had lifted him above the fences as a child to see F1 for the first time, was there in the paddock to witness his rise — and his crash — up close.

Off-track colour: from watches to art

Between the on-track drama, there were lighter snapshots of paddock life. One example: a bespoke watch worn by a team principal that comes with a cheeky backstory about withstanding furious bench slamming when things go wrong. Sebastian Vettel organised a drivers’ art session to promote tree planting, and the result was a gallery of surprisingly creative drawings that left many smiling.

Shoe culture is alive too. Each week a selection of drivers’ footwear catches attention, and Gabriel’s custom trainers were one of the hits at São Paulo. Little details like that remind you the sport is equal parts high-tech engineering and personality-driven theatre.

When the crowd becomes part of the show

Track invasions and post-race celebrations are part of the Brazilian GP’s DNA. Fans stayed long after the chequered flag, desperate for autographs and selfies. The passion shown to younger drivers and newcomers was a highlight; moments like these underscore why drivers keep coming back to places like Interlagos despite the pressure and occasional danger.

Did the stewards make the right call on Oscar Piastri?

The stewards judged that Oscar had lost control of his car and that contact followed, which fits their standards for a penalty. Many in the paddock disagreed with the severity, calling it harsh at 10 seconds. Ultimately, whether it was the right call depends on your view of strict control-related penalties versus traditional racing incident tolerance.

Can Oscar Piastri still win the 2025 championship?

Mathematically yes, but practically the margin for error is tiny. With three races and one sprint left and Oscar 24 points behind, he needs near-perfect results and some misfortune for Lando. If Lando’s advantage exceeds 25 points after the next round, the title could be decided early.

What happened to Gabriel Bortoleto and how did he survive?

Gabriel had a high-speed crash caused in part by his rear wing remaining in the open DRS position while he did not apply throttle or brake triggers that would close it. The impact registered around 57 G. Modern car design, strong survival cells, and tyre barriers all contributed to him walking away from the incident.

How does DRS close on F1 cars?

DRS can be closed automatically two ways: when the driver lifts the throttle below a threshold (typically 70 percent) or when the brake is applied. There is also a driver-controlled element in certain situations, but the automatic triggers are a key safety mechanism.

What are the next steps in the championship?

There are three races left in the season plus one sprint. Each result now carries extra weight in the title fight, and a swing of just a few positions in any race could decide the ultimate outcome.

Final thought

Racing is a mixture of precision, split-second decisions and, sometimes, controversy. A single penalty can change the narrative of a season, but it is the collection of performances, decisions and moments that ultimately decide a championship. For now the picture is clear: Lando sits on a comfortable lead, Oscar faces a steep climb, and São Paulo delivered the drama, the scares and the human moments that make motorsport compelling.