Hamilton received a combined 10-second sancꦬtion - made up of two separate five-second time penalties - at last year’s Russian Grand Prix for carrying out pre-race practice starts in the🅘 wrong place in the pit lane.

The Mercedes driver went past the designated area of the pitlane to per𝓀form his practice starts&nb𓆏sp;and instead carried them out on the right-hand side of the pit exit road.

Hamilton criticised the penalty and su𓂃ggested he was being targeted by race officials, though FIA race director Michael Masi insisted the punishment was fair for a clear breach of the regulations.

𝐆The seven-time world champion originally received two penalty points but these were later rescinded, with Mercedes instead being fined €25,000.

Ahead of this weekend’s race at Sochi, the race directors’ pre-event notes featured new instructions on wh🦋ere drivers can perform their practice starts.

“P🉐ractice starts may only be carried out on the right-hand side immediatel𓃲y after the pit exit lights and, for the avoidance of doubt, this includes any time the pit exit is open for the race,” the note read.

“Driveဣrs 🅘must leave adequate room on their left for another driver to pass.

“For reasons of safety and sporting equity, cars may not stop in the fast lane at any time the pit exit is open𒅌 without a justifiable reason.

“For reasons of safety and sporting equity, at any time the pit exit is open and when practice starts are permitted to be carried out, any car who wishes to perform a practice start must form up in a line and leave in the order they got there unless 🎃another car is unduly delayed.”