Sainz ‘too angry to talk’ after ‘unfair’ penalty for clash with Alonso drops him out of the points from P4

Carlos Sainz was left in a frustrated mood after a penalty for clashing with Fernando Alonso during the Australian Grand Prix dropped him from fourth to 12th position when he took the chequered flag.

In a race full of Safety Cars and red flags, Sainz and Alonso went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 1 at what turned out to be the penultimate restart, with the Ferrari driver tipping his Aston Martin rival into a spin.

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When informed about the penalty by his engineer ahead of the final restart and lap to the finish, Sainz was heard shouting over the radio and pleading with the stewards to hold back until he had visited them for a conversation.

Asked for his thoughts post-race, Sainz commented: “Oh, sorry. Right now, I cannot talk. I’m too angry, too disappointed, too... I just cannot say anything.

“I prefer to go to the stewards, get the penalty away, because I don’t think I deserve it and it’s the most unfair penalty I’ve seen in my life.

“I will go first to the stewards. I needed to come first to the TV pen; if I don’t come [here] they put me in another penalty, so…”

READ MORE: ‘It’s the worst start to the season ever’ says Ferrari’s Leclerc as he laments Lap 1 DNF in Australia

Pushed to expand on his thoughts, Sainz could only add: “Sorry, I prefer not to talk. I’ll come back later after going to the stewards.”

With Sainz dropping out of the points, Ferrari leave Melbourne empty-handed – Charles Leclerc retiring on the opening lap after a collision of his own with the other Aston Martin Lance Stroll.