After a lengthy German Grand Prix drivers' briefing in which many recent controversial matters were discussed – including cockpit protection and the delay of its introduction to 2018, track limits and moves in defending your position – Carlos Sainz was doubtful that the views of drivers will be listened to.
But he also added that he feels following the briefing that there is now "a strong chance" that moves such as Max Verstappen's when defending his place against Kimi Raikkonen in Hungary will be penalised in future.
"[It was] long, and not many conclusions taken yet" said the Toro Rosso driver having just exited the briefing in Hockenheim. "We gave our opinion, we gave our point of view, and now they go back, they decide and they do whatever they think it's correct to do, but its not like we've taken many conclusions or many decisions together.
"I don't know how much they will listen to us, how much they will take into consideration our point of view, and how much of a difference it will make, the drivers' briefing. Hopefully it helps and at least they take the drivers a bit into consideration."
When asked what was discussed the Spaniard said: "Many things – everything you can imagine obviously we talk about it."
On the subject of the proportion of drivers that support the introduction of the 'Halo' cockpit protection, something which also had been a matter of contention, Sainz estimated that "if I had to put a bet now, I would say 80 per cent are in favour, maybe 10 per cent are don't know, and 5-10 per cent totally against.
"What I think is clear I think is that every driver should run it before 2017, then every driver should give their opinion, then there should be a vote between the drivers, after running them.
"Even though in the end probably they don't take into consideration our vote."
Sainz added however that he thinks there is a "strong chance" that another similar move to Verstappen's on Raikkonen in Hungary's late laps will in future be penalised, due to moving your line in a braking zone. "All drivers agreed that moving under braking is probably the most dangerous thing you can do, and that the FIA should take it more seriously next time" he said, "it's getting to a point that every driver is using it a bit too much." He added that there "could be a strong chance" of a penalty the next time it is done.
On the policing of track limits – another matter that has caused controversy in previous rounds as well as this one – Sainz said "it's to be decided", but expressed a personal view that policing of turn one at Hockenheim is not necessary. "If you go too wide [at turn one] it makes you slow down, so there's a natural limit…I don't think there should be any track limits imposed there."
Sainz added that the issue of double yellow flags was not discussed however, even though many drivers had previously expressed concerns about that also.
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