Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz has admitted that he and his fellow drivers struggle to understand what is and isn't acceptable on-track and therefore what will and won't be penalised, as the rules are too confusing.
The situation has become so complicated recently that it's believed Bernie Ecclestone has called for the FIA to review the system by ripping up the current rules and starting from scratch for next season, not only to make things clearer for the drivers and fans, but to help the spectacle.
Sainz says it's hard to enjoy the sport when it's so difficult to understand, particularly for the viewers at home.
"It's not very easy to understand for myself or the other drivers, especially for the ones who count: the fans, the viewers, my uncles, my parents, my grandfathers," said the Spaniard. "They look at the race and they have no clue what is going on. No clue.
"I was at a family dinner last Sunday and they don't understand F1 now. For me it's such a shame that I cannot explain to them. Not even myself, why they put that penalty to one or another so, it's difficult. A difficult situation that I don't enjoy it at the moment."
Sainz says it's difficult to accept a penalty when you don't know exactly why you've been penalised and others haven't for the same 'offence'.
"I've been involved in situations but those two or three bad things that happen to you, they really piss you off. It's difficult to accept. There's definitely too much talking going on out of the track about penalties – even during the race talking about penalties, expecting a penalty or not. Situations that shouldn't happen."
