Ferrari

Ferrari urges F1 to ignore outcomes when handing out penalties

Two incidents in two races have caused debate over the penalty process

Sam Hall

Sunday 15 August 2021 15:12

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has stated F1 should not allow the "outcome of the accident" to affect penalties handed to drivers.

Penalties handed to Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in the last two races before the summer break have sparked debate in the paddock.

After being viewed to have been "predominantly" at fault in his accident with Max Verstappen at Silverstone, the result of which was a 51g crash for the Red Bull driver, Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty.

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Bottas was given a five-place grid penalty for the Belgian Grand Prix after causing a multi-car collision at turn one in Hungary.

Speaking ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Binotto said: "Our personal view is that the penalty should not be viewed on the outcome of the accident.

"You should judge the manoeuvre in itself. I have no doubt that the same manoeuvre can be different in a corner or in a different corner based on the safety of the corner itself."

Making reference to the Silverstone incident between Hamilton and Verstappen, Binotto explained: "What we felt at least is that such a manoeuvre has very high danger for the safety itself.

"That’s why the size of the penalty can be judged differently depending on where you do it.

"That’s a discussion we may have between team principals, FIA, F1 Commission, to make sure that at least for the future we are doing, if needed, something different or better."

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