In Saudi Arabia, Oscar Piastri scored his third win of the season despite facing some difficulties, including seeing what appeared to be a red flag that had not actually been shown. During the race, we heard the Australian’s team radio, and after the weekend, the video circulated on social media. So, what did the McLaren driver see?
On a track like Jeddah, it’s crucial to be ready for any unexpected situation and to follow all flag signals displayed by the marshals to avoid accidents. Communication with the team is also essential, especially to be warned of slower cars or incidents on the circuit.
Many buildings overlook the Saudi Arabian GP circuit. It was on the balcony of one of the residences after Turn 10 that Oscar Piastri noticed a red light that caught him off guard. Drivers don’t rely solely on marshals waving flags – LED panels and trackside screens also play a key role.
This was a peculiar episode in Saudi Arabia, causing some confusion among the drivers. It was Oscar Piastri who pointed it out: “There’s a red light on a balcony at Turn 10. It’s really distracting, looks exactly like a red flag.” (Link to video)
The McLaren driver immediately informed the pit wall to understand how to proceed, since failing to pit under red flag conditions would have resulted in a penalty as well as a major safety risk. Oscar then continued his race, going on to cross the finish line in first place, ahead of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
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