“It’s so unfair. It’s impossible”: Carlos Sainz’s angry rant after being informed of a 5-second penalty in the ending stages of F1 Australian GP

F1 Grand Prix of Australia - Qualifying
Carlos Sainz of Spain driving (55) the Ferrari SF-23 on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit on April 01, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

"It's so unfair. It's impossible," Carlos Sainz said after learning of a 5-second penalty in the final phase of the 2023 F1 Australian Grand Prix.

Carlos Sainz was on route to finish fourth in the Australian GP until he collided with Fernando Alonso at the start of a three-lap shootout following a red flag. However, during the third grid start of the day, Sainz triggered dramatic scenes in which both Alpine drivers collided and retired.

Once it was confirmed that the remaining drivers would complete the last lap behind the safety car, Ferrari were informed that their driver would be penalized by five seconds for causing a collison with the Aston Martin of Alonso.

Sainz said over his radio:

"No, it cannot be. Do I deserve to be out of the points? No. It's unacceptable. Tell them, it's unacceptable. They need to wait until the race is finished and discuss it with me."

Carlos Sainz fell to 12th when his penalty was imposed because the field was crowded when he took the checkered flag.

Sainz said during the post-race interview:

"I just needed to come to the TV pen because if I didn’t come, they’d put me another penalty. Sorry, I prefer not to talk. I’ll come back later after going to the stewards."

After Sainz's penalty, Ferrari exits Melbourne with no points, while teammate Charles Leclerc was forced to retire on the first lap after colliding with Lance Stroll.


Carlos Sainz with a penalty and Charles Leclerc DNF, Ferrari scores zero points in Melbourne

After a collision with Lance Stroll on lap 1, Charles Leclerc described the start of his 2023 Formula One season as the "worst ever." Leclerc's only finish in the year's first three Formula One races has been seventh place in the Saudi Arabian GP, where he was constrained by having to start 12th due to a 10-place penalty for altering engine components following his Bahrain GP failure.

To make matters even worse for Ferrari, they will be leaving Melbourne with zero points in the bag. Carlos Sainz was penalized for his part in the pandemonium of the virtually worthless late-race red flag restart, in which he tagged the right rear of Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin going off of Turn 1.

This transpired when Lewis Hamilton pushed Alonso to the left on the approach to the last circuit, and Sainz - who had battled off Pierre Gasly under braking - ended up taping Aston Martin into a spin, with Alonso making minor contact with the barriers.

This is a weekend that Ferrari would like to forget. They are now fourth on the constructors with 26 points. Carlos Sainz scored 20 points and Charles Leclerc has six points to his name.

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Edited by Yash Singh