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No penalty for Sainz - he retains his first-ever podium!

No penalty for Sainz - he retains his first-ever podium!

17-11-2019 21:08
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Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

Carlos Sainz Jr. has retained his first-ever podium in Formula 1, the FIA have decided, as they opted not to take any further action after investigating the Spaniard using DRS under a yellow flag.

Sainz was one of six cars under investigation for the matter, as all cars were using the boost down the back straight despite there being a yellow flag for Valtteri Bottas' parked car by the side of the track.

The 25-year-old, who started the race in last place because of an engine issue during qualifying, crossed the line in fourth place but was bumped up to third following Lewis Hamilton's five-second penalty.

It's not the way Sainz would have wanted to score his first-ever podium, but they all count, and he'll be glad to be off the mark after 101 Grands Prix without a top three finish in what was McLaren's first podium since Australia 2014. Could we see more McLarens on the podium in the coming years?