'Harsh' penalty handed out by the stewards? 'Common sense could be applied'

For the pit lane infringement in Q1, Albon received a non-driving reprimand, not compromising his P7 finish in the session.

The five-second penalty he received by the stewards for a Safety Car infringement did have consequences in terms of the on-track result. Albon originally finished in P4 collecting five points for Williams, but that is no longer on the scoreboard for him.

Talking to GPblog among others, Albon reflected on the situation that cost him and the team important points.

"We got told like five minutes before getting in the car so you're kind of trying to re-centre yourself, move on and get it back into the qualifying rhythm," he began.

"But at the same time it's five points that we lost in a midfield fight that's huge. I held my hand up, in the end it was my fault. I think the penalty was very harsh considering I did what I did for safety," Albon explained.

He then added why he went over the limit. "Why I was speeding in the VSC was because I didn't want to hit the brakes, because I had George right behind me and it was cold tyres, we just went on slick tyres, he was right behind me. I didn’t want him to crash into the back of me. Visibility wasn’t fantastic even at that point of the race. In my head I did…, I was quicker in one corner than I should have been by a second, but that's too much."

The Thai driver then said why they didn't appeal the penalty, but changes might be needed. "It's in the rules. I think the rules are the rules. I do think some common sense can be applied around them, especially in mixed conditions, but I'm sure it's an example to be set and they don't want it to get out of control. So they decided to punish me."