Haas F1 boss says Magnussen’s Chinese GP penalty not “justifiable”


Magnussen was handed a 10-second time penalty for hitting RB rival Yuki Tsunoda throughout the restart of the race following the primary security automobile interval.

As they exited Flip 6, Magnussen appeared to endure a snap of oversteer and hit the fitting rear tyre of Tsunoda’s automobile, sending the Japanese driver right into a spin.

The injury triggered to Tsunoda’s automobile pressured him to retire from the race immediately whereas Magnussen managed to maintain going.

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The Dane was discovered “predominantly responsible” for the accident by the stewards, who hit him with a 10-second time penalty.

Komatsu believes the penalty was too harsh, as he reckons it was only a racing incident.

“I don’t assume that is justifiable. I feel it is only a racing incident,” the Japanese staff boss mentioned.

“He did not run Tsunoda off the observe. He dived inside Flip 6, he hit the apex, Tsunoda was huge, he nonetheless left the room, Tsunoda got here again progressively.

Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24, makes a pit cease

Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

“He does not go off the observe, so perhaps the definition ‘got here again’ could be incorrect. Nevertheless it’s not like Kevin is wholly responsible. For me, minimal 50/50.

“If something, I feel extra Tsunoda’s [fault]. Truthfully, he did not flip into Tsunoda or something. He is dived inside, hit the apex, had a snap, however [it] did not change the automobile course. He did not then run Tsunoda off the observe.

“He has nonetheless room left. So why is {that a} penalty?”

Komatsu mentioned that whereas the penalty was not appealable, the staff would demand an evidence from race course as he didn’t agree with the choice.

Magnussen, who completed the race in sixteenth place after his penalty, felt there was nothing he might have carried out otherwise to keep away from the incident.

“I do not know. It appeared to me like he was going very huge. After which he made it stick anyway. And I used to be sort of locked in my rotation. I could not actually do something extra. However they deemed it was a penalty for me. So it’s what it’s.

He added: “I feel it seems like I did what I might to. Once we had contact there was the automobile width [on the outside].

“So I feel we simply misinterpret one another a bit of bit, I assume. I have to overview it. However to me, it would as nicely have been a racing incident.”

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