Ferrari asked the stewards to let them replace Sainz’s energy store using a new component without incurring a penalty, but their request was denied despite the FIA’s attempts to search the rules for a reason not to punish the team.
“The stewards note that if they had the authority to grant a derogation in what they consider in this case to be mitigating, unusual and unfortunate circumstances, they would have done so, however the regulations do not allow such action,” the stewards said.
Sainz, meanwhile, was stunned that he was punished for an issue that was not his fault. “Unfortunately, as the session finished, the team communicated to me that I was taking a 10-place grid penalty for something that I have no fault, and the team have no fault,” he said.
“That changed completely my mindset and my opinion on the weekend and how it’s going to go from now on. I’m disappointed and in disbelief with the situation. You will not see me very happy this weekend.”
