Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

History repeats as 70th anniversary of Mallory Park is celebrated

National
History repeats as 70th anniversary of Mallory Park is celebrated

How Sutton's BTCC steamroller overcame Snetterton challenges

Feature
BTCC
Snetterton (300 Circuit)
How Sutton's BTCC steamroller overcame Snetterton challenges

Rossi faces key decision: Who will replace di Giannantonio at VR46?

MotoGP
Catalan GP
Rossi faces key decision: Who will replace di Giannantonio at VR46?

Red Bull reacts to Verstappen’s criticism – why ‘I told you’ moments are needed

Formula 1
Canadian GP
Red Bull reacts to Verstappen’s criticism – why ‘I told you’ moments are needed

Mini miracles as remarkable podium stories play out at Snetterton

National
Mini miracles as remarkable podium stories play out at Snetterton

Why Russell doesn’t want to see the 2026 F1 rules changed

Formula 1
Canadian GP
Why Russell doesn’t want to see the 2026 F1 rules changed

How Rosenqvist came of age in the closest Indy 500 finish in history

Feature
IndyCar
110th Running of the Indianapolis 500
How Rosenqvist came of age in the closest Indy 500 finish in history

Why "awesome" Canadian GP has convinced Hamilton he's "probably better without" Ferrari simulator

Formula 1
Canadian GP
Why "awesome" Canadian GP has convinced Hamilton he's "probably better without" Ferrari simulator

Canadian GP: Adrian Sutil angry at 'inconsistent' flag penalties

Adrian Sutil will approach FIA race director Charlie Whiting about what he feels is an inconsistent application of Formula 1's blue flag rules

Sutil was given a drive-through penalty for disregarding blue flags when the drivers battling for second place came up to lap him.

But the German vehemently disagreed with the officials' call.

"I can't understand it and I'm not accepting this," Sutil said.

"I think I let them by within one lap. They lost maybe one second, which is absolutely normal for what you lose when you lap a car.

"I've brought it up many times in the drivers' meetings. I was stuck behind the slow backmarkers, the Marussias, the Caterhams, and they wouldn't move and you had to overtake them into a corner. No penalty.

"I don't think Lewis [Hamilton] lost a position because I was holding him up. That all happened in the next few laps.

"It's really a shame but I was eighth and fighting hard for this position, and they took it away like that.

"I just want a real clear clarification. What do you do when you're in front and someone is lapping you? How many corners do you have to let them by?

"Charlie says normally that you have to find a way through if you're behind lapped cars.

"I had no clear instruction and it's really, really disappointing that they're inconsistent in their decisions."

Asked by AUTOSPORT if he wanted to take the matter further, Sutil confirmed that he would seek talks with Whiting before the next race at Silverstone and raise it in the drivers' briefing there.

"I'd just like clear rules," he said.

"We have 1000 different rules here but on this kind of thing there is no clear clarification.

"When they see it on TV, they give a penalty. When they don't see it, they don't give a penalty."

Despite the penalty, and spinning when trying to pass Valtteri Bottas then being hit by Pastor Maldonado shortly afterwards, Sutil still finished 10th in Montreal.

Previous article Canadian GP: Williams race quotes
Next article Canadian GP: Mark Webber slams 'pay driver' Giedo van der Garde

Top Comments

Latest news