Ferrari fume over five-figure FIA fine after blue-flag controversy

Ferrari

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Ferrari fume over five-figure FIA fine after blue-flag controversy

Sainz was penalised in practice but saw a win slip away through blocking

Ewan Gale

Saturday 4 June 2022 09:30

Carlos Sainz has called for greater clarity and consistency from the FIA after the latest blue-flag controversy at the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Spaniard was found guilty of impeding Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll during practice in the principality, leading to his Ferrari team being fined €25,000 for providing its driver with "grossly inaccurate" information over the team radio.

But in the race, Sainz and team-mate Charles Leclerc were respectively hindered by Williams drivers Nicholas Latifi and Alex Albon during the pit-stop window that saw Sergio Perez leap from third into first place.

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Discussing the fairness of the fine handed to the team, Sainz explained: "I cannot count the times I got impeded in Monaco, both being dangerous and not dangerous.

"What I don't understand is why we got fined €25,000 as a team for an impeding, which I did and I accept the blame and I apologised to Lance.

"But I don't understand why the other occasions are not investigated and other people are not fined for exactly the same thing."

Sat alongside Sainz, team principal Mattia Binotto added: "If you see in the race, solid blue flags to Albon or Latifi and no further action."

Sainz replied: "Because they are both the same... the race and no further action but it was proper impeding.

"So we want more clarity and more consistency, clear as that."

Sainz blocking was not dangerous

Sainz's impeding incident with Stroll was also labelled dangerous by the race stewards when determining Ferrari's fine.

But questioning the fairness of the decision, Binotto said: "We know the traffic situation in Monaco is always very difficult and that radio communication is critical and not obvious.

"We did our best. We believe the impeding he made was certainly not dangerous and we have not been too happy with the fine.

"We believe it was not the right choice because, as a team and driver, we did our best to avoid it at the time and not do anything wrong with it.

"So overall, we need to accept those decisions."

Additional reporting by Ian Parkes