Oscar Piastri has been handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Liam Lawson during qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix, dropping the Australian from third to sixth on the grid.

The stewards concluded that Piastri blocked Lawson as they rounded Turn 1 while Lawson was on a final flying lap to advance to Q3. The incident occurred after Piastri exited the pitlane without being made aware by the McLaren pit wall that Lawson was on a push lap.

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

The incident prevented Lawson from advancing to Q3. The absence of the Red Bull driver also stripped Max Verstappen of a tow during the fight for pole position, which was secured by Pierre Gasly. George Russell secured a front-row seat behind Gasly.

Piastri described the moment as “a tricky situation to manage”. He also experienced difficulties at Turn 1, locking up during both final flying runs in Q2 and Q3.

McLaren teammate Lando Norris will start eighth, having inherited a position due to Kimi Antonelli’s 30-place grid drop. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella stated that the penalty means the team will have one car on the third row and another on the fifth.