Force India incensed with Hulkenberg time penalty

Force India COO Otmar Szafnauer says the stewards' decision to hand out a five-second time penalty to Renault's Nico Hulkenberg "makes a mockery of the sport".

Shortly after the start, while battling wheel to wheel with Sergio Perez, Hulkenberg cut a corner and gained an advantage over the Mexican.

The move did not go unnoticed by the stewards who chose to hit the Renault driver with a time penalty rather than force Hulkenberg to give back the position, a decision which did not go down well with Force India.

• Bottas leads Hamilton to Mercedes 1-2 in Abu Dhabi

"They gain a place in the constructors championship which means more money for next year," Szafnauer said to Sky Sports.

"It makes a mockery of the sport to have it so inconsistent. I think Hulkenberg should have given the place back just like the same thing he did to Grosjean.

"I don't know what the FIA are thinking. It's really difficult to understand when the decisions are all over the place."

Sergio Perez was equally unhappy with the call.

"The way he got back the position was very unfair," said Perez.

"I was ahead of him and he just left the track and gained an advantage. That's quite good when you have more pace than the other car, to cut the track and gain an advantage.

"I don't think the penalty was good – he should have given back the position."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter