McLaren told to honour Oscar Piastri contract clause after Qatar, it’s the right thing to do

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Oscar Piastri was on course for a crucial win in Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix before McLaren made a strategic error. He now enters the season finale in Abu Dhabi third in the championship.

When Nico Hulkenberg’s stricken Sauber triggered a safety car on lap seven, the two McLarens were the only drivers not to pit. That meant they were chasing the time loss for the rest of the race.

Piastri was still able to finish second – teammate Lando Norris missed out on the podium – but McLaren’s mistake effectively handed Max Verstappen the victory.

The Australian was visibly furious in his cockpit after crossing the line and told the team over the radio that he was ‘speechless’. He appeared dejected when speaking to Martin Brundle in parc ferme.

McLaren must pay Oscar Piastri a win bonus for the Qatar Grand Prix

It was clear that Piastri was on course to win the Qatar Grand Prix. He’d been faultless throughout the weekend, dominating the Sprint from pole position and getting the better of Norris in Grand Prix qualifying too.

Piastri was already 2.6 seconds clear of Verstappen when the safety car came out and even if he had been caught, it was extremely difficult to pass at Lusail. With race stints capped at 25 laps, an undercut would have been harder to execute than ever.

Team principal Andrea Stella says it’s a ‘matter of fact’ that McLaren didn’t make the correct decision.

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Writing in his column for The Telegraph, former F1 designer Gary Anderson called for McLaren to pay Piastri his contractual win bonus. He also thinks Lando Norris should be compensated.

“After the race, McLaren needed to put their hands up to both their drivers and admit they got it wrong and explain that they did not think everybody else would pit and that it was a mistake,” Anderson wrote.

“Really, Norris and Piastri deserve to be given their bonuses as if they finished first and third. That is where they should have been.”

How much did McLaren pay Oscar Piastri in bonuses last year?

While McLaren rewarding Piastri for a race he didn’t win could create an awkward precedent, it’s the right thing to do in this particular case – not least because it’s a sensitive period. This blunder has been more impactful than any other.

McLaren can protect their relationship with the 24-year-old by paying out. The symbolic gesture will be more important to Piastri than the money, and the team don’t need to worry about the cost cap – driver salaries aren’t included.

Bonuses accounted for the vast majority of Piastri’s earnings last year. According to Forbes, he pocketed a base sum of £3.8m but earned a further £12.8m on the back of his performances.

Piastri signed a new contract at McLaren during the off-season, which may be even more lucrative in that respect. He has won seven races and scored 15 podiums this year.