Doornbos saw more examples of inconsistent stewards in Turn 4

Max Verstappen was denied victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix when he had to give the lead back to Lewis Hamilton after a successful overtaking manoeuvre in Turn 4. This penalty was justified, but the double standard which the race direction seems to apply causes Robert Doornbos to be uncomprehending.

In 'Crashing with the Kitchen' for AD, Doornbos revisits the footage of Lewis Hamilton going off track in turn four some 30 times. After that they show the overtaking action of Verstappen. The Dutchman was indeed off the track. That overtaking manoeuvre being more important than what Hamilton did, is not true in many ways, Doornbos thinks.

Hamilton not only benefit enormously from this separate racing line, according to Doornbos, but there are also examples of similar overtaking actions in turn 4 which were not punished. "I have also seen overtaking actions with Ocon and Tsunoda and Ocon went around them on the outside and nothing was said about it. So it's far too grey area. They made a mistake with that."

But he feels Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are not to blame. The responsibility for this mess lies entirely with the race committee. The guidelines were not properly set and Hamilton took advantage of that. Doornbos would 'certainly' have done the same himself. "If they don't say anything about it anyway!".