‘Grosjean’s penalty point completely inappropriate’

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Haas rue 'worst race since we started team'

Haas rue 'worst race since we started team'

Guenther Steiner has called Romain Grosjean’s penalty point for Saturday’s block in qualifying “completely inappropriate” and “completely a wrong decision.”

Grosjean was found guilty of blocking Lando Norris during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

While the block was notable, it came as a result of Sebastian Vettel passing the Haas driver into the final corner thus forcing Grosjean to back off.

Grosjean was penalised, Vettel was not.

“The driver of car eight [Grosjean] stated that he was about to commence a push lap when he was overtaken by car five [Sebastian Vettel] and thus slowed significantly to maintain a sufficient gap,” read the stewards report.

“He was not advised by the team of the rapid approach of car four [Norris], which was on a push lap. The speed differential was 136 km/h at the point where car four had to take avoiding action.”

Grosjean was handed a three-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race while also being slapped with a penalty point on his licence.

Saturday’s point brings his tally to eight with the rules stating that any driver who reaches 12 points in a rolling 12 month period will be hit with a one race ban.

Steiner reckons the penalty point was a step too far.

“He did not do anything wrong,” Steiner told Motorsport.com. “There was no radio call. Why should he get a point? That is just like having it out at somebody.

“It is completely inappropriate. It is completely a wrong decision.

“The three grid positions we can discuss, but to give him a [penalty] points…guys? Where are we living?”

Steiner was especially unhappy with the situation in light of Friday’s meeting to discuss adopting a ‘let them race’ attitude.

The Haas team boss added: “You try to chat with them [the stewards], but if you don’t get it you don’t get it. If you don’t want to get it you won’t get it. I don’t know.

“They had a meeting with the drivers yesterday where they had a good talk with them, but I don’t know what they talked about because it looks like they wasted a lot of daylight.

“They talk and they talk and then they do what they feel like without considering any factors.”

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Haas Romain Grosjean

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