Magnussen found himself in the midst of controversy during the race, receiving an initial 10-second penalty for an incident involving Albon after the safety car period ended. With his own race effectively derailed by the penalty, he made a bold move by passing Yuki Tsunoda off track.
Subsequently, Magnussen intentionally slowed down the pursuing group, which included Albon, to create an advantageous pitstop window for his Haas teammate, Nico Hulkenberg.
This strategic maneuver paid off handsomely as Hulkenberg managed to pit without losing positions, ultimately securing a valuable point for finishing 10th.
While Albon didn’t harbor any grudges over the earlier incident with Magnussen, he expressed frustration regarding what he perceived as a lenient penalty for Magnussen’s off-track pass on Tsunoda.
In Albon’s view, the initial penalty for the contact between Magnussen and himself was justified, given the circumstances. However, he criticized the subsequent penalty for the off-track pass, labeling it as “cheeky” and suggesting that returning the position instead of a time penalty would be a more appropriate punishment.
Albon has voiced grievances in the past about drivers gaining an advantage by going off track to overtake him and then opening up enough of a gap to nullify the penalty. Magnussen’s tactic of slowing down the pursuing pack after gaining an advantage presents a novel twist on this theme.
The incident has sparked discussions about the strategic choices teams might make, particularly in the midfield where points are crucial. Albon believes that sacrificing one driver’s position to ensure points for the team could become a common strategy among midfield teams striving to capitalize on every opportunity for points.
