In the course of the warning interval to take away Valtteri Bottas’s stricken Sauber, Sargeant was working down the start-finish straight in direction of Flip 1 as his Haas rival emerged from the pits following a change of tyres.
However whereas Hulkenberg reached the essential security automobile line that determines the working order a cut up second in entrance, Sargeant’s velocity offset and momentum left him pondering he had bought there first so he slotted in forward.
Then, with no suggestions from his pit wall or the FIA over needing to provide the place again, Sargeant was handed a 10-second penalty after the racing resumed for what was dominated an unlawful overtake.
Requested how laborious the state of affairs had been to learn as he charged right down to the primary nook, Sargeant stated: “There is a little bit of elevation there as nicely and I assume it simply makes issues laborious to see when automobiles are cut up by fairly an enormous distance.
“To my aspect, I assumed I used to be manner forward. I did not suppose it was even shut so, to me, it was no dialogue. So, to listen to about that on the finish of the race was a bit unusual. I do not know if there’s any manner the FIA might possibly give us some suggestions.
“We have been underneath security automobile for ages, I do not know why they did not simply inform me to provide the place again. Clearly, I might’ve completed so, had they stated, however to my information, I assumed I used to be manner forward.”
Sargeant’s subsequent 10-second penalty dropped him to seventeenth within the closing classification, and got here on the finish of a weekend the place he struggled to seek out constant efficiency from his Williams – having complained in qualifying the automobile felt “disconnected”.
A significant set-up change for the race prompted a pitlane begin and, whereas there was some encouraging early tempo, he thinks circumstances labored towards him with the timing of the protection automobile.
Plus, an incapability to get the laborious tyre switched on, left him enduring what he stated was one of the vital “painful” stints he has skilled in F1.
“There have been good moments, unhealthy moments,” he stated. “I believe the beginning of the race on the softs was robust and once we placed on the medium tyre, we have been in a very good place.
“However we most likely might’ve completed with out that security automobile as a result of we might’ve gone medium, medium and that might’ve suited us significantly better.
“We put the laborious tyre on, and I could not even get it to modify on, and instantly destroyed the fronts.
“From that time on, it was a large, large battle. Bit confused about that final stint and doubtless one of the vital painful ones I’ve had. We’ll see if we are able to do higher going ahead.”