Renault hits out at ’huge’ Magnussen penalty

Renault has hit out at Kevin Magnussen’s exclusion from qualifying in Bahrain.

The Dane has been ordered to start Sunday’s grand prix from the pitlane, after going through a red light signalling a routine weighing during Friday practice.

"For something that is quite frankly a routine check, it’s a huge penalty," Renault chief engineer Alan Permane told the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet.

"I would not even call it a mistake, it was a misunderstanding. I think it’s very, very hard," he added.

The FIA’s penalty follows a meeting with the stewards involving the team and Magnussen, who has returned to F1 this year after a one-season break.

"We took the video and tried to prove there was enough confusion and that it was done unintentionally. He was convinced that the red light was not for him but for the Red Bull," Permane added.

Permane revealed that the nature of the penalty means it is pointless for Magnussen to even take to the track for qualifying on Saturday.

"There’s nothing for us to do in that session," said Permane. "We’re not going to burn tyres for nothing. We need to spend the time looking at a plan to make the most out of where we are."