Maldonado awarded post-race drive-through penalty
Pastor Maldonado has been given a post-race drive-through penalty for his collision with Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the European Grand Prix.
Maldonado and Hamilton were battling for third place on the final lap at Valencia when the Venezuelan driver made contact with the British driver. The contact caused Hamilton to be pushed into the wall, retiring him from the race, whilst Maldonado lost his front wing and ended up in tenth place.
The stewards decided to award Maldonado with a drive-through penalty meaning 20 seconds was added to his final time. The penalty means that the Venezuelan driver has been demoted to 12th place with Williams driver Bruno Senna getting the final point instead.
Bill3 | Jun 25, 2012 | Reply
I believe that is a poor call. Hamilton drove Maldonado off the track on the right-hand corner such that there was no way for either driver to take the next left-hand corner properly.
Maldonado was forced into the curbs which kept his car from turning left despite his turning the wheel hard left. Review his in-car video.
Hamilton is full to blame here, but neither driver should have been penalized.
F1 is putting on a fantastic show this year, but the penalty calling worse than NASCAR’s fantasy debris cautions.
blade | Jun 25, 2012 | Reply
one rule for all or no rules at all .if pastor had stayed off track and rejoined the so called stewards would not have give lewis a penalty but they do when it’s Schumacher or rosberg , this is a joke