FIA fines McLaren 5,000 after pit-lane near-miss at Zandvoort

Oscar Piastri and George Russell narrowly avoided contact in the pit lane during Friday's second practice for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, prompting an FIA investigation that resulted in a fine for McLaren while the Australian driver escaped a personal penalty. The incident occurred as the field returned to the pits under a red flag triggered by Alex Albon's crash at Turn 1.

The stewards' report says Piastri's Car 81 attempted to leave the fast lane and enter its pit box during the red-flag period. As he approached, the pit entry was momentarily blocked by team personnel pushing a rear jack. A McLaren crew member signalled Piastri to go around to the next pit area, which he did, but in doing so he briefly reentered the fast lane before turning back into his box. That sequence forced Russell in Car 63 to brake heavily and take evasive action to avoid a collision, the stewards said. No contact occurred and no injuries were reported, but the panel concluded the situation "could have resulted in [a collision]" or injury to pit-lane personnel.

The stewards summoned Piastri and a team representative after FP2, reviewed on-board and pit-lane video, team radio and in-car footage,...