Carlos Sainz FINED €2… with half SUSPENDED, confirmed after FIA investigation into Singapore Q3 crash…read more.
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz was fined €25,000, with half of it suspended, for crossing a live Formula 1 track following his crash during qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix. The incident occurred in Q3 when Sainz lost control of his car and slammed into the barriers at the final corner of the Marina Bay Circuit, with just over eight minutes left in the session. Although Sainz was unhurt, his decision to walk across the track to reach the pit lane entrance during the red-flagged session led to an investigation by the FIA stewards, resulting in the fine.
Sainz was given the fine of €25,000, with €12,500 of it suspended for the rest of the season on the condition that he does not commit a similar offense. Reflecting on the incident, the Spanish driver admitted it was a mistake on his part, explaining that the crash was caused by misjudging his tyres’ grip. He explained that a slow start to his lap, after letting several cars pass, left his tyres colder than he anticipated. As a result, he lost control of the car when he hit a bump at Turn 17, causing it to snap and sending him into the barriers.
“It was a driver mistake,” Sainz said. “I underestimated the grip I would get launching the lap. I was already under pressure with another car approaching, and I knew that starting the lap I would be slower because of the slow approach to the last corner. So, I tried to push for something that there just wasn’t enough grip to do.”
The FIA stewards’ decision to issue the fine drew parallels to a similar incident involving Lewis Hamilton during the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. In that race, Hamilton was fined €50,000, with half of it suspended, and received a reprimand for crossing a live circuit after a collision with his Mercedes teammate, George Russell, during the race’s first lap. Hamilton’s crash broke his car’s right rear wheel, forcing him to retire from the race. While the race was under a safety car, Hamilton crossed the live track from Turn 1 to reach the pit lane, only moments before Russell emerged from the pits.
Hamilton, who later apologised for the incident, had explained to the FIA stewards that he understood the potential danger his actions posed, both to himself and to other drivers. In their ruling, the stewards emphasised the seriousness of crossing a live track and the potential risks it posed, warning that drivers must exercise extreme caution in such situations.
A week after the Qatar race, the FIA reopened its investigation into Hamilton’s incident, citing concerns that the penalty issued might have been too lenient. The governing body felt that crossing a live track was far too dangerous, and that the initial penalty might have sent the wrong message to younger drivers. There was a call for stricter penalties in such cases to reinforce the seriousness of the offense.
In Sainz’s case, the FIA stewards noted key differences between his incident and Hamilton’s. They explained that Sainz’s penalty was lighter than Hamilton’s because his offense occurred during a red-flag period in qualifying, as opposed to Hamilton’s, which took place during a safety car period in a race. Additionally, Sainz argued that he was beyond the pit entry point when he crossed the track, which the stewards considered a mitigating factor in determining the penalty.
While the fines for both drivers were significant, the suspended portions of their penalties reflected the FIA’s aim to discourage similar behavior without imposing overly harsh punishments for a first-time offense. The stewards’ rulings also underscore the importance of driver safety and the responsibility drivers have to avoid actions that could put themselves or others in danger, particularly in live-track situations.
The FIA’s consistent handling of such incidents demonstrates its commitment to maintaining high safety standards in Formula 1, while also addressing the unique circumstances of each case. The governing body’s decision to reopen its investigation into Hamilton’s Qatar incident, and the emphasis on stricter penalties for track-crossing violations, shows that driver safety remains a top priority for the sport’s regulators.
