Sainz believes penalty was harsh

According to many the Russian Grand Prix was somewhat marred by penalties being handed to the drivers by the race stewards.

In an eventful race, numerous penalties were handed out.

From 10-second stop/go penalties which had to be served in the pit-lane, to post-race 10 second time penalties the Russian Grand Prix had it all.

One victim was Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz who was given a a 10-second penalty which cost him his 11th placed finish.

He was also given two penalty points on his license. Something which over the course of 12 months could prove crucial if he reaches a point where a one race suspension could be a possibility.

He was handed the penalty for an incident with Renault’s Jolyon Palmer.

The Brit had gone for a rather audacious move around the outside of the long, hard and fast turn 3, the two cars brushed each other and Palmer was forced wide.

‘First of all, at the exit of Turn 2, if you want to pass, you go on the inside for Turn 3, But he decided to go round the outside and I was never expecting him. Sainz told motorsport.com.

‘I was looking in my left mirror to see him, suddenly he loses the car on the dirty part of the exit of Turn 2, and we crash. Then is when I felt ?oh, there?s someone on my right, he?s not on my left?.

‘I?ve just watched the video – first he loses the car, then we touch and then he goes wide. Then I think the stewards interpreted that I forced him off the track.

‘But anyway, a 10-second penalty for this kind of accident, for me, you cannot even race anyone.’