FIA announce Japanese Grand Prix grid penalty over…..read more
The FIA has officially handed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz a three-place grid penalty following a qualifying incident with Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton at the Japanese Grand Prix. The penalty comes after an on-track situation during the second phase of Saturday’s qualifying session, which saw Hamilton forced to take evasive action to avoid a slower-moving Sainz at the first corner.
The incident occurred as Hamilton was commencing a hot lap during Q2 at the Suzuka Circuit. As he powered through Turn 1, he encountered Sainz driving slowly in the middle of the track, which forced the seven-time world champion to swerve in order to avoid a potential collision. The moment was quickly picked up by the stewards, who launched an investigation into the matter after qualifying concluded.
According to the FIA’s official statement, the stewards reviewed various sources of evidence, including positioning data, marshalling system data, team radio communications, video footage, and in-car camera views. They concluded that Sainz had just completed a flying lap and was on his in-lap when the incident took place. Meanwhile, Hamilton was starting a flying lap and encountered Sainz in an awkward position on track.
The governing body emphasized that although Sainz was not entirely stationary, his position on the racing line during an in-lap created an unsafe scenario for Hamilton, who was carrying significant speed into Turn 1. The stewards deemed Sainz to be “predominantly at fault” for the unsafe positioning, which disrupted Hamilton’s qualifying performance and presented a safety concern.
As a result, Sainz has been penalized with a three-place drop on the starting grid for Sunday’s race. Originally slated to start from 12th position after being knocked out in Q2, the Spaniard will now line up in 15th place. This change significantly impacts his prospects in the race, especially as teammate Charles Leclerc managed to secure a stronger starting spot in P4.
Lewis Hamilton, who ultimately qualified in 8th position, will not face any penalty himself despite having to swerve off line in a tense moment. However, the incident did disrupt what might have been a better lap for the British driver, who has already acknowledged the challenge of starting behind several key rivals, including Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris.
The FIA’s decision underscores the importance of track awareness and driver responsibility, particularly in high-speed qualifying sessions where multiple cars are on different run programs. It also highlights the ongoing scrutiny on driver behavior during in-laps and out-laps, where slower-moving cars must ensure they do not impede others on flying laps.
With this penalty in place, Sainz’s task for the Japanese Grand Prix becomes significantly more difficult. Starting from 15th on the grid, he will need to carve his way through the midfield if he hopes to score valuable points for Ferrari, who are locked in a tight constructors’ battle. Meanwhile, Hamilton will also have his work cut out from P8, hoping to capitalize on any early race incidents or strategy calls.
As the race approaches, the incident serves as a reminder of how even minor misjudgments during qualifying can carry serious consequences for race day outcomes.
