In reaction to the fierce criticism directed at the FIA and the race direction, race director Michael Masi says he supports all time penalties given. In all three cases the driver should have been given more space, Masi thinks.
"In the first case, in Sergio's one with Lando, he was wholly alongside Lando", the race director argued to Motorsport.com. "And therefore there is an onus to leave a car's width to the edge of the track."
Masi saw the two incidents between Perez and Leclerc proceed in a similar fashion, and argues that the time penalties were justified there too. "Then it was the same in the reverse with Checo and at exit of turn four, and then Checo and Charles again at the exit of turn six", Masi said.
Conclusion
The Australian concluded as follows: "Obviously I don't sit in the stewards room to deliberate, but their view was in all three circumstances, a car's width should have been left to the edge of the track because the two cars were alongside each other."