Sainz takes maiden podium as Hamilton handed post-race penalty for Albon clash

Lewis Hamilton’s optimistic move on Red Bull’s Alex Albon for P2 on the penultimate lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix has seen the 2019 champion handed a five-second penalty, dropping him from third at the chequered flag to P7.

That means that Carlos Sainz, who started the race 20th and last, is sensationally promoted from P4 to his first ever F1 podium – and McLaren’s first since Australia 2014 – on a day when Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly was claiming his own maiden podium.

READ MORE: Hamilton admits Albon crash ‘completely my fault’

A statement from the stewards read: "Car 23 (Albon) was on his normal race line. Car 44 (Hamilton) attempted to pass on the inside, but was unable to get far enough inside to accomplish the overtake and by the time he realized there would not be sufficient room he was unable to back out of the situation and the collision followed. The Stewards determined that Car 44 predominantly at fault for the collision with Car 23 at Turn 10 and therefore ordered a five-second penalty."