Carlos Sainz Jnr has been given a three-place grid penalty for impeding Sergio Perez.
The stewards ruled McLaren had warned Sainz that Perez was behind him as he left the pits, but failed to make way for the Racing Point driver quickly enough.“Car 55 [Sainz] was exiting the pits as car 11 [Perez] passed through turn one,” the stewards ruled. “Car 11 caught up to car 55 in turn two and three and was unnecessarily impeded by car 55 at that point and through several subsequent turns.
“While extraordinary track conditions clearly impacted the situation, radio communications from the team clearly warned car 55 that car 11 was behind him.”
Updated 2020 Turkish Grand Prix grid
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Nat Lockwood
14th November 2020, 15:46
Ridiculous! Even Pérez said to drop it, he wasn’t really impeded and it was hard for everyone so it doesn’t matter & to pass over the subject in interview! Fair play to Checco being honest & fair but poor Carlos.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th November 2020, 15:49
Not entirely necessary as Checo got into Q3 anyway, while Sainz didn’t. I’d agree more if it were the other way round, but consistency is key.
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
14th November 2020, 16:48
@jerejj I think going by past precedent, the consequences of impeding do not alter the decision to penalise. He still impeded Perez, whether it cost Perez is anything or not. So I believe this is consistent with past rulings.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th November 2020, 17:03
@keithedin Indeed. Consistent with the past precedent.
F1oSaurus (@)
14th November 2020, 17:50
This one seems fair enough. Knowingly impeding a car behind on a hot lap is just bad form.
OOliver
14th November 2020, 20:25
You have to ask what Sainz was thinking or was it just keeping heat in his tyres.
Balue (@balue)
14th November 2020, 20:30
Didn’t he already impede someone else in Q earlier in the year?