The effects of dangerous driving are well-known in the public but try a stunt on a race track and you will be punished there too.
As Michael Schumacher was able to keep his 3rd place finish in the European Grand Prix in Valencia on Sunday, after it was believed that he did not slow down the speed of the car while entering a yellow flag zone, and at the same time having his DRS open, several drivers have now been handed a variety of penalties for their wrong-doings in the thrilling and exciting race.
Pastor Maldonado was involved in an incident where he tried an overtake pass on Lewis Hamilton at Turn 12, where he had to move to the left, and outside of the track, in order to keep up with Lewis Hamilton. However, Hamilton kept his line, he was ahead of Maldonado, but the two hit each other and ended Hamilton´s race. Maldonado has received a post-race penalty of 20 seconds for his crash, leaving Hamilton without blame for the incident.
Former Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari said that Maldonado was overly aggressive towards Hamilton, and the Spaniard pointed the finger of blame on Maldonado.
“He was entirely outside the limits of the track and, honestly, there was no room to overtake at that point,” said Alguersuari.
As if it wasn´t enough, Kamui Kobayashi has also received a penalty, this one for crashing into Felipe Massa and he is bumped down five places on the grid for the British Grand Prix in two weeks. And over at Toro Rosso, Jean-Eric Vergne received a double penalty. His move on Heikki Kovalainen, where he overtook the Finn, but then moved into the path of the Caterham driver causing a collision, cost the Frenchman a fine of €25,000 and a ten-place grid penalty for Silverstone. The stewards said that the severity of the double penalty, should be viewed in light of the “serious nature of the incident”.
