Daniel Ricciardo lashed out at stewards for hitting the Red Bulld river with a three-place grid penalty in tomorrow's Australian Grand Prix.
The local hero was caught out by a red flag late in yesterday's FP2 session for a loose wire on the pit straight.
It was considered that Ricciardo did not stay above the mandatory minimum time set by the FIA in the "penultimate and final mini marshalling sectors" of the lap.
It was one very angry Honey Badger who responded to a penalty which wiped the Aussie's signature smile off his face.
"I can agree with everyone, there are other penalties they could have used," he told Sky Sports F1.
"They could have given a reprimand, they could have given something [else]. To give me a grid penalty before the season has started is ****house.
"I slowed down. I knew there was a red flag, I didn't go slow enough.
"When I went in there [the stewards' office] I said I did break that rule but there are guidelines and one of them is a grid-place penalty, but as well you've got to have a bit of common sense."
Clearly, in the eyes of Ricciardo and his team, the severity of the punishment far outweighed the nature of the offense.
"There was no incident, I still slowed down," he added.
"I wasn't speeding, I wasn't driving in danger and I wasn't trying to achieve anything from it. It was just an honest mistake.
"Does that really rob me of a front-row start? They could give me a reprimand, give me a fine for all I care, but don't rob me of a front-row start."
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner echoed his drivers frustrations.
"It's hard enough for us to understand let alone explain it to the viewers and the fans. You'd have thought a fine or slap on the wrist could have been more appropriate," said Horner.
"I've never seen him that angry before."
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