F1 LIVE: Hamilton buzzing but Sainz fuming as Haas launch protest amid Australian GP chaos | F1 | Sport

Lewis Hamilton was left delighted after claiming his first podium finish of the new year at the Australian Grand Prix, which was disrupted by no less than three red flags and will undoubtedly go down as one of the most chaotic races in recent memory. Max Verstappen managed to claim the spoils but there was no shortage of controversy after the chequered flag, with Carlos Sainz left utterly furious after being handed a controversial late penalty that saw him stripped of a fourth-placed finish.

The Spaniard was given a five-second time penalty for causing a collision after a late standing restart saw as many as six cars venture off the circuit, with the drivers eventually being reinstated to the positions they were in prior to the stoppage before embarking on a processional final lap behind the safety car.

It meant that Sainz, who was initially running in fourth position, was helpless to avoid dropping outside the points as the group of drivers behind him bunched up as close as possible across the finish line.

“I prefer not to talk right now,” fumed the Ferrari driver in his post-race interview with Sky Sports F1. “I am too disappointed and I might say the wrong things. It’s the most unfair penalty I have seen in my whole life. We are going to the stewards now and I’ll come back to you guys. I can not do it.”

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