Stroll calls Australian GP weaving penalty 'funny decision'

Lance Stroll says he "doesn't get" the Australian Grand Prix stewards' decision to hand him a five-second penalty for weaving during his battle with Valtteri Bottas.

The Aston Martin driver was sanctioned for making a move against Bottas on the main straight.

"Stroll returned to the racing line and then moved to the right for a second time to defend from another move by Bottas. The second move breaches the regulation which prohibits more than one change of direction to defend a position", stated by the stewards summary of the incident.

Although Stroll admitted to moving right a second time, the Canadian insisted he had not done do to defend his position against the Finn.

"I don't get it," he said. "It was two guys weaving all the time, it's just the last move really.

"You can weave down the straight as long as you don't weave when the guy's approaching very close behind you.

"I'm weaving to try and break the slipstream, not to try and defend, and then they penalise me for it. I don't get it.

"I guess a lot of funny decisions going on right now."

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Stroll's five-second penalty did not change his final P12 position in the race, but the penalty point added to his FIA licence brough his tally to eight points with a 12-month period, or 4 points away from a race ban.

Stroll was also scrutinized for an overtaking move on Bottas on lap 40, when the virtual safety car period ended. Bottas and his Alfa team were unhappy with the move as they considered that the Finn had been forced off the track.

But once again, a defiant Stroll dismissed his rival's grievances, describing his move as "good racing".

"He was sleeping on the virtual safety car restart, so I caught him sleeping,” said Stroll. "I felt that was good racing."

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