Alpine driver Pierre Gasly labelled Carlos Sainz’s driving as “unacceptable” after he was knocked out of Q1 at Formula 1’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Gasly was on a push lap when he encountered Sainz’s Ferrari on the approach to the chicane, and he had to back off and take to the escape road.
As track conditions improved Gasly was shuffled down the order and was knocked out in 17th position.
Stewards have noted the incident and have summoned Sainz for his block on Gasly.
“I just think it’s completely unacceptable to be driving the way Carlos did,” he said. “It’s as simple as that. I’m coming at 300km/h, he’s sitting 30km/h in the last chicane just focusing on his own lap but you’re not alone on the race track.
“First of all I could not even close the lap, that would have put us in the top six easily, and second of all it was extremely dangerous and unnecessary, so just absolutely gutted.”
Gasly agreed that Sainz “definitely” deserves a penalty but added “it’s not even what I care about as the damage has been done.
“I’m sitting here in P17 when we have the pace to be in the top 10, eight, or even six in these conditions, so whatever they [the stewards] decide then, okay, it’s going to damage him but it’s not going to give us back the qualifying we should have had.
“I was in the opposite situation the other day [in Spain] but the guys [Max Verstappen and Sainz] finished P1 and P2, and it didn’t impact their Sunday.
“Now, I’m sitting here in P17, it’s ruined my qualifying, and it impacts my race a lot, it’s just unacceptable.”
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