Sainz: Brazilian GP practice spat with Raikkonen not worth probe

Raikkonen escaped sanction by the stewards for cutting across Sainz on the entry to the pitlane at Interlagos after they had previously run in close proximity to one another for half the infield section.

Toro Rosso driver Sainz suggested what "looked like drama", was "not that bad", despite gesturing at the Finn during the incident.

Describing what unfolded, Sainz said: "I got held up by Kimi. It was on an out-lap.

"I complained to him that he could have done better to move out of the way, but from then on he started racing me, and I said 'he wants to be in front of me to start a push lap'.

"I realised he wanted to take me round the outside to do an in-lap. Maybe he was a bit excited about the moment and he wanted to race me just because he was angry about it, but that's it really.

"I was like, 'come on, you could have moved out of the way. It's FP2', especially as I was on an out-lap and he was on an in-lap - then move out of the way.

"He kept battling with me round the outside. It's difficult to understand. Perhaps he also didn't expect me to have such less power to take me round the outside like he did."

Sainz confirmed he spoke with Raikkonen after the incident, adding: "He did nothing because he's Kimi!

"He just drives fast and does that kind of thing, but I shook hands with him. It was just a minor misunderstanding."

Sainz felt the matter was not worthy of a stewards' investigation given nothing untoward had happened.

"If he had broken my front wing by cutting me off and I had crashed, or he had crossed the pit entry, then yes [there should have been an investigation]," added Sainz.

"But in the end nothing happened so I don't feel it's necessary.

"I don't even think the stewards found it necessary.

"They just wanted to clarify what happened because they didn't understand."