Whiting disagrees with Magnussen-criticisms: "He didn't block Leclerc"

F1 race director Charlie Whiting has waved away the criticisms from Sauber's camp towards Kevin Magnussen for his defensive manoeuvres against Charles Leclerc, as the Swiss team claimed the Dane should've gotten a penalty for his move.

As Leclerc was approaching Magnussen on the straight at Suzuka, the Haas driver moved his car to the right to defend from the Sauber, but he did this quite late, leaving Leclerc with little time to react. The Monegasque rookie ended up nailing Magnussen in the back of his car, damaging the Dane's floor and giving him a puncture, as well as damaging his own front wing.

Both drivers eventually had mechanical retirements from the race, and pointed fingers at each other for who was at fault for the incident. The actual decision makers, the race stewards, made no further action. Whiting explains why.

"I think it is impossible to say Kevin blocked him," the race director explained to Autosport.

"It was just that he had made the decision, he was going to go right, fractionally after Charles had.

"You have to look at it quite a few times and analyse it in a little detail to see that.

"But I think it was just unfortunate, and I think that is what the stewards felt."