The 2025 F1 Austrian Grand Prix has been delayed after a shocking incident at the Red Bull Ring before lights out.
A dramatic turn of events unfolded ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix when an incident on the grid forced race officials to delay the start of the formation lap by 15 minutes. The disruption created confusion and concern across the pit lane, as teams scrambled to adapt their strategies and keep their cars within optimal operating conditions.
While the exact nature of the incident has yet to be fully detailed by the FIA, it was serious enough to warrant an extended delay. Marshals and safety crews were quickly deployed to assess the situation, while drivers remained in their cockpits or waited in the garages as tension grew. For many, the unexpected pause disrupted tire warm-up routines and race start preparations, injecting a level of uncertainty into what was already expected to be a tightly contested race.
The delay proved particularly costly for Williams, who suffered a major setback even before the first lap could properly begin. Carlos Sainz, driving for the team this weekend in a temporary role amidst a reshuffle, encountered a technical issue linked to the pre-race incident and was ultimately forced to retire from the race before it had truly begun.
Sainz’s retirement marked a bitter disappointment for the Grove-based outfit, who had high hopes following a strong qualifying performance that placed Sainz in a competitive position on the grid. Engineers were seen working frantically on his car during the delay, but despite their best efforts, the issue could not be resolved in time. The Spaniard exited the car visibly frustrated, knowing that valuable championship points had slipped away through no fault of his own.
For Williams, this incident highlights the fragility of fortune in Formula 1, where even before the lights go out, a team’s entire weekend can be upended. The team will now turn its attention to understanding the root cause of the failure and regrouping ahead of the next round.
“We’re obviously disappointed,” a Williams spokesperson commented post-race. “Carlos was in a strong position, and we believed points were very much on the table today. We’ll work with the FIA to investigate what happened before the race and ensure we learn from it going forward.”
As the paddock moves on, the story of this Grand Prix will be remembered not just for the action on the track, but also for the chaos and heartbreak that occurred even before a single racing lap had been completed.
