The Spaniard was given a five-second penalty by the stewards for causing a collision with Fernando Alonso at the chaotic restart after the second red flag, which saw a string of incidents generate a third red flag.
The penalty was awarded before the resumption for the single lap run to the chequered flag behind the safety car.
An emotional Sainz made it clear on team radio that he felt he should have been given a chance to explain the incident to the stewards.
In contrast, the collision between Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon that happened just seconds after the Sainz and Alonso clash was investigated after the race, resulting in no further action.
In addition, a crash between Logan Sargeant and Nyck de Vries that saw both drivers end up in the gravel was not subject to a formal investigation.
For the resumption the cars were put back in the previous grid order, minus any missing cars, with Sainz in fourth place.
He subsequently crossed the line still fourth on the road, but with the whole field stacked up behind him he dropped to 12th in the final classification as the penalty clicked in.
If the penalty is ultimately rescinded Sainz would potentially get his fourth place back and the drivers behind him – Lance Stroll, Sergio Perez, Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg, Oscar Piastri, Zhou Guanyu and Yuki Tsunoda – would all drop back a place and lose points.
“As we are discussing with the FIA, and we sent the report to the FIA, I don’t want to disclose any details of this discussion,” said team boss Fred Vasseur.
“The only thing is that about Gasly/Ocon, and for sure we had Sargeant/De Vries at Turn 1, and the reaction of the stewards was not the same. But I want to avoid making any comment.”
Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
The review process, last used in F1 when Aston Martin made an immediate challenge to Alonso’s penalty on Sunday night in Jeddah, involves two steps.
Firstly, the stewards have to decide whether there is a case to be answered and specifically if there is a “significant and relevant new element” and if they decide to proceed they then make a decision based on that new evidence.
“The process is that first they will have a look on our petition to see if they can re-open the case,” said Vasseur. “Then we’ll have a second hearing a bit later, with the same stewards or the stewards of the next meeting, about the decision…
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