Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Formula 1, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Lando Norris
Tom Jenkins
Formula 1 photographer Kym Illman has revealed the 'unforgivable' thing he saw from McLaren following Oscar Piastri's second place finish in Qatar.
Piastri was a 'broken' figure according to Martin Brundle after McLaren's strategy blunder saw victory handed to Max Verstappen in Lusail.
Lando Norris' fourth place finish keeps all three drivers in the fight heading to Abu Dhabi, with Verstappen 12 points and Piastri 16 points behind the Brit.
Despite cutting the lead down from 24 points, Piastri was far from pleased at the chequered flag and couldn't hide his frustrations in his post-race interview.
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"Clearly we didn't get it right tonight," Piastri told Martin Brundle post race.
"I drove the best race that I could and as fast as I could. There was nothing left out there.
"I think in hindsight it's pretty obvious what we would have done, but I'm sure we'll discuss it as a team," he added.
Following the race the top three drivers are always seen embracing their team in celebration, however, that was not the case for Piastri in Qatar.
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According to photographer Illman who is present at all grand prix, Piastri was only met with two McLaren team members as he exited his car.
"He threw his gloves in anger and then went looking for his crew, but they weren't there," Illman said via YouTube.
"Why weren't they there? Well, maybe a couple were, but certainly second would normally warrant a number of your crew being there to help celebrate.
"Carlos Sainz had almost all of his side of the garage at Parc Fermé to meet him post-race. Of course, he doesn't end up on the podium terribly often, so maybe that is a little bit out of the ordinary."
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The photographer reiterated his disgust with McLaren's lack of presense for the podium celebrations, branding it 'unforgivable'.
Illman added: "I think it's almost unforgivable to think that you don't bring your crew down to celebrate with your driver."
This isn't the first time McLaren's celebrations have caused a stir this season, with Piastri absent from the podium after they sealed the constructors title in Singapore.