Sainz doesn't understand stewards' choice: 'It wasn't an unsafe release'

Carlos Sainz has had another poor race. The Spaniard finished only eighth at the Dutch Grand Prix after being penalised for chaos in the pit lane. Sainz himself does not agree with the penalty.

Footage showed Sainz had enough space to pull away from Fernando Alonso's car at his pit stop, but the Ferrari driver suddenly had to hit the brakes to avoid a McLaren mechanic. This nevertheless created a dangerous situation with the Alpine car.

"Honestly, a very bad day. Poor pace with the soft tyres, then a very bad pitstop and an unsafe release that wasn't an unsafe release, it was taking avoiding action on a McLaren. I don't understand very well the penalty either so a lot of points went going," Sainz explained to Viaplay's camera.

Chaotic day for Sainz in the pit lane

"It [the pitlane] was super small. I was released clearly ahead of Fernando but then I had to hit the brake with a McLaren mechanic that was in the middle of the way. That's why I don't think it was unsafe release," Sainz said. Teammate Charles Leclerc finished third, but Ferrari again loses many points in the battle against Mercedes for P2 in the Constructors' Championship. Sainz's first pit stop also went wrong as his team only had three tyres ready. As a result, the pit stop lasted twelve seconds.