Two sanctions for Lewis Hamilton left the Brit feeling unhappy following yesterday’s race. Despite starting on pole, a pair of 5-second penalties took him out of contention for victory and ended up finishing a lowly 3rd. 

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 post-race, the six-time World Champion was far from impressed with the stewards after doing practice starts outside the designated area. 

“I need to go back and see what the rules are,” said Hamilton. 

“I need to see exactly what I did wrong. I’m pretty sure nobody has got two five-second penalties for something so ridiculous before. 

“I didn’t put anyone in danger, I’ve done this [type of start] at a million tracks over the years and never been questioned on it. 

“But it is what it is. 

“They [the stewards] are trying to stop me. But it’s ok, I just need to try keep my head down and stay focused then see what happens.” 

Initially, Hamilton was given a penalty point for both infringements, which took him to a total of 10 points on his licence; that meant the British driver was only two away from triggering an automatic race ban.  

However, the stewards overturned that call following a post-race discussion with Mercedes and Hamilton. The team was hit with a 25,000 euro fine instead. The FIA’s Michael Masi explained why they chose to do so. 

"The stewards after the race heard from the team, and the driver of car 44," said Masi.  

"So Lewis, and Mercedes spoke to the stewards, at which point it was actually a team instruction to Lewis where he could perform the practice starts. 

"And on that basis the stewards have just now rescinded the penalty points on both those decisions, because they thought it was inappropriate. And, as a result, have fined the team €25,000 for that instruction. 

"And effectively, yes, it was him driving the car. However, a contributing factor was that his team instructed him to do so at that point, and therefore, they saw fit to revise their decision accordingly." 

Masi explained that all the drivers knew where the practice start zone was and they were pointed out in the race director notes.  

"The practice start location is obviously very circuit specific, and detailed in the event notes. So at every other event Lewis along with all the other drivers has complied with the requirements of where they perform a practice start in accordance with the race director instructions. 

"I would say that the reason why we determine where the practice start location is for the safety of all drivers. Everybody is aware of what is actually happening. So we determine its location for a deliberate reason. 

"I suggest that there was probably a miscommunication between the team and the driver of car 44. Because obviously, Valtteri [Bottas] and all the other drivers used the exact practice start location where it was, immediately on the right after the pit exit lines. 

"Generally, we actually don't paint a box, we just specify the location and have done even before my time, from my understanding. It's very much a circuit specific element of where it is. I think today was just a simple error from that perspective." 

"We’ll just keep our heads down and keep fighting, keep trying to do a better job, be cleaner, squeaky clean”

Read Lewis Hamilton's reaction to Sunday's big talking point ⬇️#RussianGP 🇷🇺 #F1

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 28, 2020

While the penalty points from yesterday for Hamilton were removed, Masi maintained it was still an offence and an advantage gained.  

"I think you need to have a look at everything on its own merits, and in the stewards' view, performing that practice start in that area was a sporting advantage. And therefore, they thought an appropriate penalty was a sporting penalty. 

"The spectrum is wide from a penalty area, and the stewards obviously have the ability to apply any of the penalties in the sporting regulations and in the international sporting code. 

"So that's why we have the stewards and the penalties are for them to determine what is most appropriate in the circumstances. 

"There was a breach of two elements of the regulations that were highlighted, one being the article within the race director's event notes. 

"The second being article 36.1 of the sporting regulations, which states that you must keep a constant speed through the pit exit road, the pit exit road being defined from where the lights are at pit exit, through to the safety car line." 

Masi also got asked about Hamilton’s comments to the media that the stewards are trying to stop him. 

“If Lewis wants to raise something, as I’ve said to him and all the driver's numerous times, the door is always open. 

“From an FIA perspective, we are there as a sporting regulator to administer the regulations. 

“We have the stewards as an independent judiciary to adjudicate those, and therefore there was an infringement and it doesn’t matter if it was Lewis Hamilton or any of the other 19 drivers. 

“If a breach has occurred in the regulations, they will consider it on its merits. 

“Further to that they would adjudicate it equitably and fairly taking all the elements into account.”