Ferrari to appeal Sainz’ 5-seconds penalty

Ferrari have decided to appeal against the stewards’ decision to award Carlos Sainz a 5-seconds penalty towards the closing stages of the race, which demoted him from 4th to 12th due to the safety car finish and the pack being bunched up.

The Spaniard was penalized for a collision with fellow compatriot Fernando Alonso in the second restart of the race just 2 laps before the finish.

The 28-year old was devastated when the news came to him in the cockpit just minutes before the finish.

‘No, it’s unacceptable. Tell them it is unacceptable. Tell them they need to wait until the race is finished and discuss it with me.’ he was heard saying over the radio.

More on this topic:

Leclerc dominates and wins US GP, Ferrari gets 1-2

‘Clearly the penalty is not deserved – it’s too severe.’

Ferrari have lodged an appeal now, as that could be done within 14 after the penalty is imposed. Their claim is that the stewards are usually more compliant when it comes to race starts and this is one such occasion.

The news of the penalty came as a shock not only to Sainz, but to the whole Ferrari team as it virtually robbed them from scoring any points and compiled their miserable weekend after Charles Leclerc spun out in the first lap of the race.