After missing out on a points finish at the returning Singapore Grand Prix, Kevin Magnussen has discussed his frustration at race director Eduardo Freitas.
The Danish driver was astonishingly awarded his third black-and-orange flag of the season, after damage to his front-wing was deemed unsafe to be out on the circuit.
As it did at the Canadian and Hungarian Grand Prix, the Haas driver was forced to make a pit-stop, which ultimately ended his chance of a points finish.
The incident at the Marina Bay Circuit occurred on Lap One, where the 29-year-old bounced over the kerb on the exit of Turn Seven, which broke a front-wing endplate.
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Magnussen was running on the cusp of the points places when forced to pit, which dropped him to last as a result.
The Haas driver thinks it was absolutely “unnecessary” to be given the flag, with the Dane insisting that the part “wasn’t about to fall off”.
“I had very slight damage but it was nothing,” Magnussen said.
“I got the black-and-orange flag which to me seems unnecessary as the part wasn’t about to fall off, there were no safety concerns as it has tethers to the car – it wasn’t even moving.
“We finished P12 when we had an extra pit stop that I didn’t need, so it’s frustrating.”
Team principal Guenther Steiner was equally frustrated to have been given the flag for the third time this season, despite telling the FIA previously that a broken endplate isn’t a necessary reason to be awarded with the black-and-orange flag.
The Italian believes that points were possible at Singapore “without dreaming of them”; however, Magnussen’s forced pit-stop and Mick Schumacher being hit by George Russell ended all hopes of that.
“It was a disappointing race as we could’ve scored points here realistically, without dreaming of them,” Steiner said.
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“The incident on lap one with Kevin, we lost all positions and again we received a black-and-orange flag, now for the third time, when there is no need for it. We have made it very clear to the FIA on the past two occasions and it’s just like you have your back against the wall.”
The Americans dropped to eighth in the Constructors’ Championship following last weekend’s race, as Aston Martin managed a super-double points finish.
It means Haas are in desperate need of a points finish, something they haven’t achieved since the Austrian Grand Prix.