FIA Issues Late Penalty to Carlos Sainz Following US Grand Prix Collision
In a surprising turn of events after the United States Grand Prix, the FIA has announced a late penalty for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, following an on-track incident involving Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. While Max Verstappen comfortably led from start to finish at the Circuit of the Americas, drama unfolded further down the field, reshaping the post-race storyline.
The flashpoint occurred at Turn 15, where Sainz attempted an aggressive move on Antonelli. The Spaniard dived down the inside of the corner, hoping to secure an overtaking opportunity. However, contact between the two cars saw Antonelli’s Mercedes spin out, sending him tumbling down the order. Sainz, on the other hand, was forced to pull over moments later, triggering a Virtual Safety Car and becoming the only retirement of the race—a disappointing end after what had been a strong performance in Saturday’s sprint session.
Following the incident, the FIA stewards confirmed that the clash would be investigated after the race. Their deliberation extended into the evening, and on Monday morning, the ruling was made public: Carlos Sainz has been handed a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix, along with two penalty points added to his Super Licence.
When summoned to give his account, Sainz explained that he believed Antonelli should have provided more room through the corner’s apex. According to the Ferrari driver, Antonelli turned in earlier than expected, leaving him no space to avoid contact. Sainz also admitted to locking his brakes in an attempt to slow down, but by then, a collision was inevitable. The Spaniard argued that Antonelli could have anticipated his move and left space, suggesting that the contact was a racing incident rather than one driver’s fault.
However, after reviewing multiple camera angles and telemetry data, the stewards disagreed. Their report clarified that before the apex of Turn 15, Sainz’s front axle was not alongside or ahead of Antonelli’s mirror line—an important benchmark defined by the FIA’s Driver Standards Guidelines. This meant Sainz had not established a legitimate overlap to claim the racing line. As such, the stewards ruled that the Ferrari driver had no entitlement to space at the corner’s apex.
The ruling concluded that Sainz was “predominantly at fault” for causing the collision, noting that his late braking and optimistic approach were the main causes of the contact. Since Sainz failed to finish the race in Austin, the stewards converted what would normally be a 10-second time penalty into a five-place grid drop for the next round in Mexico City.
Additionally, the two penalty points added to Sainz’s licence bring his total to four within a 12-month period—well below the 12-point threshold that would trigger a race ban, but still a reminder of the fine margins in Formula 1’s disciplinary system.
The decision marks another frustrating moment in a turbulent season for Sainz, who has shown flashes of brilliance but also endured his share of setbacks. As the F1 circus moves on to Mexico, the Spaniard will now face the challenge of fighting through the pack from a compromised starting position, hoping to turn this penalty into a story of redemption.
