(Motorsport) Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz was demoted from fourth to 12th place during the Australian Grand Prix following a collision with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso during a chaotic penultimate lap during the standing restart. The Italian team had submitted a right to review and the request was heard in a virtual hearing on Tuesday morning, but the petition was dismissed with the stewards saying “There is no significant and relevant new element which was unavailable to the parties seeking the review at the time of the decision concerned.”

Following the decision, Ferrari released a statement that read “We are naturally disappointed and felt that we had provided sufficient, significant new elements for the FIA to re-examine the decision especially in the context of the particular conditions and multiple incidents that occurred during the final restart. We are however respectful of the process and of the FIA decision. We are now looking forward to entering broader discussions with the FIA, F1 and all the teams, with the aim of further improving the policing of our sport, in order to ensure the highest level of fairness and consistency that our sport deserves.”

The Australian Grand Prix also saw Alpine teammates Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon being involved in a heavy collision while Williams driver Logan Sargeant ran into Nyck de Vries’ AlphaTauri. When the race started, Sainz and Alonso were fourth and third respectively and both sustained minimal damage while the other four cars were forced to retire. The FIA had decided that the 12 remaining cars would be restored to the order but Sainz’s five second penalty meant that he couldn’t create a big enough gap.

The Spaniard was left devastated by the decision and described it as “the most unfair penalty” and “the biggest disgrace” in the sport. Team principal Fred Vasseur argued with the stewards, saying that there was no consistency with the three Turn One incidents. He said “The only thing is that about Gasly-Ocon, also Sargeant-De Vries turn one, and the reaction of the stewards was not the same. What we can expect is to at least have an open discussion with them. Also for the good of the sport, to avoid having to have this kind of decision when you have three cases at the same corner and not the same decision.”

Also read: Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says Ferrari criticism is “premature”