Daniil Kvyat says the current engine penalties in F1 are “ridiculous” and wants them to be changed next season.
Both Red Bull drivers were hit with penalties for using a sixth power unit in the Austrian Grand Prix, resulting in an automatic ten place grid penalty. While Kvyat was able to use the whole penalty, team-mate Daniel Ricciardo received a five second time penalty in the race having not qualified high enough on the grid.
With the penalties due to a lack of reliability from Renault, Kvyat says it makes no sense to him for drivers and teams to be penalised having already been hit by misfortune.
“I always found this rule a bit ridiculous, to be honest,” Kvyat said. “I think Formula One first of all is a sport, and I don’t know in any other sport where you get an injury and you have to start even further backwards. Let’s say a sprinter gets an injury and then in the 100 metre sprint you have to start 50 metres further back. I don’t think that would be really fair.
“The rules are what they are, and hopefully they will realise that it’s not really right and hopefully for next year they will correct this.”
Both McLaren drivers were hit with 25-place grid penalties in Austria as a result of the current regulations.
Click here for the F1 drivers' girlfriends gallery
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
