Ferrari Star admits to driver error after F1 Singapore GP qualifying crash. Read More.
Carlos Sainz admitted to making a costly driver error during the Singapore Grand Prix qualifying session, which resulted in a crash that severely impacted his weekend. The Ferrari driver struggled throughout the session and was unable to match the pace of his teammate Charles Leclerc, finishing behind the Monegasque in all three practice sessions.
In Q3, Sainz found himself under pressure to deliver a strong lap. However, on his first flying lap, he ran wide at the final corner, hitting the barrier with significant force. Speaking to the media, including Motorsport Week, after the session, Sainz expressed his disappointment and took full responsibility for the incident. He explained that a combination of cold tyres and misjudged grip levels led to his mistake.
“I had a bit of a strange accident there,” Sainz said. “I had to let a lot of cars through while opening my lap, and my tyres were a lot colder than I thought they would be. I misjudged the grip going over the bump at Turn 17, and the car just snapped on me.”
Sainz acknowledged that the error was entirely his own, explaining that he underestimated the grip available as he launched into the lap. Compounding the issue, another car was approaching behind him, which added to the pressure and affected his approach to the final corner.
“I was already under pressure with another car coming, and I knew launching the lap was going to be slower because of my approach in the last corner,” he said. “I tried to do something there, but there just wasn’t enough grip.”
With his Ferrari damaged, Sainz’s best hope for the race would have been starting in P10. However, if his gearbox sustained damage in the crash, he could face a 10-place grid penalty, pushing him further down the order.
In addition to the crash, Sainz was involved in a minor incident with the stewards. He crossed the pit entry while cars were still on track, but he escaped significant penalties from the investigation. Nevertheless, it was a challenging and frustrating day for the Spaniard.
Looking ahead to the race, Sainz acknowledged that a pit-lane start was a likely possibility due to the extent of the damage to his car. “Honestly, the car looks quite damaged,” he admitted. “I don’t know what we will do, but I just hope I can have a normal race tomorrow.”
Despite the setback, Sainz remained hopeful that he could recover and put in a solid performance, similar to what he achieved earlier in the season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He pointed out that once he gets into a rhythm during a race, he usually performs well, though tyre management had been a challenge all weekend.
“This year, once I get into a rhythm in the race, we should be okay. It’s just over one lap with the black magic of the tyres to get everything working,” he said. “Tomorrow, as soon as I get into a rhythm, we will be there.”
Sainz emphasized the need for a good night’s rest to reset after the disappointing day. “I’m still optimistic,” he said, “but I need a good night’s sleep to feel fully positive. Today was a big blow, and I didn’t enjoy it at all.”
