Piastri disagrees with Verstappen and Leclerc on FIA Qatar GP decision

Speaking to the media present at the post Qatar Grand Prix press conference, the Dutchman and the Monegasque seemed to be in line with their thoughts on the FIA'S actions during the debris on the track incident, however, the Australian had a much harder view in this respect. In the end the response to the situation by newly appointed Race Director, Rui Marques, was to simply wave double yellows in that sector. However, with turn 1 being the only overtaking zone in the Losail International Circuit, it hardly seem like the best solution, since this measure would neutralize the action on track.

Lando Norris was in fact a victim of the lack of a reaction, one might argue, since he missed the waved double yellows and earned a 10 second stop and go penalty which anhilated whatever chances he had of fighting for the race win, something that McLaren might have a bone to pick about, with regards to the Constructor's Championship, should they lose it to Ferrari after this weeks Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which could make Piastri's stance easier to understand.

Verstappen and Leclerc agree

"It was a bit difficult to see, to be honest, what it was. I didn't even know it was a mirror. Of course, I saw the debris, but we have done more races where there has been a bit of debris offline. So I guess it's a bit of a tough call to make", explained the Dutchman. "But then I think at one point a car drove over it. And then, of course, there are like carbon bits flying everywhere. I don't know what the reason is, of course, of the punctures, but it's maybe something to analyse. But at the moment, it's a bit difficult for me to give a clear cut opinion on that".

Leclerc, also didn't think much of the situation: "I don't know how obvious it was on TV, but for us in the car, it wasn't that obvious. I didn't know where the mirror was. I don't know what it was. Obviously, it was quite clear once someone picked up the mirror and there was debris everywhere. But before that, it wasn't that bad. So, again, I don't think it was that bad", de-escalating the matter at hand.

Is Piastri too hard on the Race Direction?

Nevertheless, Piastri seemed to judge the situation and Race Direction's measures in a much harsher way, understably given that Ferrari cut on McLaren's lead in the Constructor's Standings in Qatar, when they could have sealed the tile in Doha on Sunday evening: "I think the right thing to do would have been a VSC or a Safety Car pretty much straight away. I didn't really know where the mirror was, but after seeing it on the big screen, being basically in the braking zone for Turn 1 when you're trying to overtake, I don't really know what we were going to do until someone hit it, because I think having it sit there for 30 laps of the race would have been not very smart", judged the McLaren driver.

"So I think, yes, probably [the Safety Car] should have been a bit earlier because at racing speeds, especially in that part of the track, you can't have a marshal run on and just simply pick it up. So maybe we could have been a bit quicker with that", concluded Piastri.

Abu Dhabi set to be Mclaren and Ferrari final showdown for 2024 title

The season is set to end, as it's customary, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in less than a week's time. There, McLaren and Ferrari will have a war ending final battle on the circuit of Yas Marina, to see who takes the 2024 Constructor's World Championship home. Red Bull will do their best to take P2 from Ferrari, but given Sergio Perez' current level of performance it is very doubtful that they can actually do it. Marques's approach to the weekend as a Race Director might be under heavy scrutiny in Yas Island this weekend, following the several controversial decisions taken under his leadership this past weekend in Qatar.