Lewis Hamilton concerned in Japanese GP drama as F1 star hit with brutal penalty
Carlos Sainz has been hit with a three-place grid penalty for the Japanese Grand Prix after impeding Lewis Hamilton in qualifying, which leaves him starting 15th
Carlos Sainz has received a three-place grid penalty for the Japanese Grand Prix after he was found to have impeded Lewis Hamilton during his final flying lap in Q2.
Initially qualifying 12th, Sainz will now start from 15th position. While Hamilton will start in P8.
As Hamilton approached Turn One to begin his flying lap, Sainz was on the inside of the corner, having just completed his own. The seven-time world champion had to swerve to avoid a collision, causing him to abandon his lap in the first sector.
Following an investigation and a meeting with the stewards, Sainz was hit with a three-place grid drop, placing him behind Fernando Alonso, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda for Sunday’s race.
In their explanation, the stewards stated: “The driver of Car 55 stated that he did not have any warning from the team, of the approach of Car 44 on a push lap.
“He stated that he was caught completely by surprise and because of the approach speed of Car 44, and the angle of his car, he could not see Car 44 in his mirrors.
“However, notwithstanding the above, the team had ample warning that Car 44 was on an out lap whilst Car 55 was on its push lap.
“Also, more than 8 seconds elapsed from when it was obvious Car 44 was not going into the pits, and hence was going to start a push lap, and when Car 55 could have taken appropriate action if the driver had been warned by the team.
“It is noted that the standard penalty guideline for this offence during Qualifying, irrespective of whether it was the fault of the driver or the team, is a three grid position penalty, and therefore the Stewards find that the standard penalty should be applied.”
Although Sainz’s impeding didn’t cost Hamilton a spot in the final part of qualifying, the Ferrari ace was frustrated at the end of Q3. His top time only secured him P8 on the starting grid, while his teammate Charles Leclerc managed to land the fourth-fastest time.
