Carlos Sainz Jnr’s penalty for an incident with Andrea Kimi Antonelli briefly became a point of confusion after the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The FIA originally announced Sainz’s 10-second time penalty had not been served during the race and he must therefore serve a three-place grid drop at the next round.
Shortly afterwards, the FIA cancelled that decision, noting: “Penalty was served and should not be converted to a grid position penalty.”
The Williams driver was given a 10-second time penalty for forcing Antonelli off the track at turn 10 during the race. Sainz later retired from the race due to damage.
The stewards originally stated Sainz’s retirement meant his penalty could not be served, and they had therefore given him a penalty for next weekend’s race.
“As the penalty was unable to be served due to the driver being unclassified in the race, in accordance with Article 54.3 of the Formula One Sporting Regulations, the penalty is converted to a three grid position penalty for the next Race in which the driver participates,” the stewards noted in their original decision.
They also gave Sainz two penalty points on his licence, which leaves him on a total of three. The stewards ruled: “at the entry to turn 10 car 55 [Sainz] locked the front wheels and understeered towards car 12 [Antonelli], missing the apex and forcing car 12 off the track. Car 12 lost two positions as a result.”
The FIA later issued a revised document noting that a 10-second time penalty had been issued along with Sainz’s two penalty points. Sainz served his penalty on lap 44, one lap before Williams retired his car.
This article will be updated
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