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Haas' Steiner unimpressed with Sainz 'who needs glasses'

Haas boss Guenther Steiner believes the punishment handed out to Carlos Sainz after last weekend's Canadian Grand Prix is insufficient.

As the field rushed towards Turn 3/4 on the opening lap of the race and drivers jockeyed for positions, Carlos Sainz's Toro Rosso cut across and hit Romain Grosjean's Haas.

The spat ended with Sainz sending himself and Felipe Massa's Williams into retirement while the Spaniard was also hit with three-place grid penalty for next week's Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

In his defence, Sainz said: "I never realised a Haas was in my dead angle in the mirror and we collided.

"If I look back now there's actually nothing I could have done differently because when I checked my mirrors I never saw Romain on the right side."

Sainz hit with Baku grid penalty for opening lap blunder

Steiner was unimpressed with Sainz's antics and excuses however.

"The punishment is too low," Steiner told Auto Motor und Sport.

"Grosjean had a whole race ban in Spa in 2012 for overlooking other cars in the blind spot."

A frustrated Steiner also said it wasn't the first time this season that Sainz displayed a lack of proper judgements.

"He pushed Magnussen off the track in the exit of the pit lane at Barcelona," Steiner explained.

"And, he messed up practice in Montreal because he did not look in the mirrors. Either he needs glasses or larger mirrors."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.