Grosjean struggling to understand penalty decision

Romain Grosjean is struggling to understand why the stewards handed him a 10-second stop-go penalty for causing a collision. On the opening lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Grosjean lost the rear of his car heading into Turn 6, and took Esteban Ocon out of the race.

The stewards deemed him guilty and handed him a penalty. After the race, Grosjean questioned the stewards' decision, claiming that he had a puncture and that was the reason for his sudden spin into Ocon.

"The only thing I can say about the opening lap is that I got massively hit in turn one," Grosjean said. "I believe I had a puncture on the rear left. I got to turn six and lost the car, and I think it was just the puncture. Getting a penalty on top of that – I'm not super happy with it. I want to see the footage.

"The positive from the race is that the last stint on the supersoft, the car felt amazing. Even though we had massive floor damage, it felt really good. We now need to understand why it felt so good and move on to Abu Dhabi."

I can't wrap my head around how Grosjean gets a penalty and Magnussen doesn't. If Magnussen, who deliberately turned into Stoffel, does not get a penalty, then how can Grosjean get one when he clearly just made a mistake or had bad luck with the puncture?

  • 1
  • Nov 13 2017 - 10:46

Replies (10)

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  • mbmwe36

    Posts: 533

    I agree. I would chalk that up to a racing incident. Yes, he went into that corner guns blazing, but it could've easily worked out.
    And if he did deserve a punishment, why 10 seconds? Usually people get 5, even when they're clearly at fault.

    • + 0
    • Nov 12 2017 - 22:11
  • boudy

    Posts: 1,168

    Who knows the stewarding has been inconsistent this year. Bottas and Raikkonen should have penalties along somewhere but they didn't. Other drivers got penalties on a whim.

    • + 0
    • Nov 13 2017 - 07:33
    • Agreed, they really need to sort that out.

      • + 0
      • Nov 13 2017 - 07:50
    • Should automate this job, based on predetermined ( but further expanded) rules. If automation fails, at least its fair for all ;).

      • + 0
      • Nov 14 2017 - 00:04
  • FatMike

    Posts: 153

    Esteban got Grosjean'd. Wasn't this the same penalty as they gave Verstappen when he took out Ricciardo in Hungary earlier this year?

    • + 0
    • Nov 13 2017 - 07:39
  • I can't wrap my head around how Grosjean gets a penalty and Magnussen doesn't. If Magnussen, who deliberately turned into Stoffel, does not get a penalty, then how can Grosjean get one when he clearly just made a mistake or had bad luck with the puncture?

    • + 1
    • Nov 13 2017 - 10:46
    • Bhurt

      Posts: 320

      Agree completely.

      • + 0
      • Nov 13 2017 - 14:12
  • Barron

    Posts: 625

    Ah Kevin the Barbarian! F1’s new Destroyer...? As for Romain, well <shrug> he’s just a Lettuce n’est ce pas? ?

    • + 0
    • Nov 13 2017 - 11:38
  • Haas has the worst driver pairing in F1. That's all that seems clear to me. The stewarding... yeah needs some work. But not as much as Haas driver pairing.

    • + 0
    • Nov 13 2017 - 19:15
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    Just rematched the incident grosjeans tailed stepped out after his front wheel touched icons car. Grosjean doesn't realize what he is doing in the heat of the race. He had the same issues when he was a rookie always in crashes blaming others. When receives a blue flag he tries to race the leaders. His 10 second penalty is more because of his history this season

    • + 0
    • Nov 13 2017 - 20:02

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