Disappointed Sainz ‘still thinks penalty was excessive’

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has called for decision-making in Formula 1 to be clearer, after the team’s right of review was dismissed on Tuesday.

Sainz was handed an in-race time penalty in Australia after he was judged to have been wholly to blame for colliding with Fernando Alonso.

Ferrari requested a right of review and needed to bring new, relevant and significant evidence – unavailable at the time – in order for the initial hearing to be re-opened.

A virtual hearing was organised on Tuesday to discuss Ferrari’s right of review petition.

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Ferrari presented telemetry, a written statement from Sainz, and statements from Sainz’s opponents, but these were not deemed admissible and the right of review was dismissed.

“Very disappointed that the FIA did not grant us a right to review,” Sainz wrote on social media.

“Two weeks later, I still think the penalty is too disproportionate and I believe it should have at least been reviewed on the basis of the evidence and reasoning we have presented.

“We have to continue working together to improve certain things for the future. The consistency and decision-making process has been a hot topic for many seasons now and we need to be clearer for the sake of our spot.

“What happened in Australia is now in the past and I am 100 per cent focused on the next race in Baku.”