Sainz avoids grid penalty after stewards investigation

Carlos Sainz has retained his ninth-place starting position for the Hungarian Grand Prix after the stewards opted not to penalise him following an incident with Antonio Giovinazzi during qualifying.

The Spaniard was accused of impeding Giovinazzi during Q1, with the Alfa Romeo driver being forced to abort his timed lap after catching a slow-moving Sainz on the racing line.

The stewards state that Sainz could not see the first blue flag that was shown at marshal post 14 and didn't have enough time to react to the next flag at the following post.

A statement from the stewards reads: “Giovinazzi was on a timed lap, when approaching turn 6, where Sainz was on the racing line and on an in lap. As a result, Giovinazzi had to abort the lap.

“Blue flags were displayed at marshal posts 14 and 15, however there was no blue light panel displayed.

“The Stewards accepted that Sainz could not see the first blue flag shown and did not have enough time to react to the second blue flag due to his position on the track.

“The team are reminded, that it is the team’s responsibility to give appropriate radio warning when another driver is approaching from behind on a timed lap.

“It will not be accepted as an excuse, that the driver received no radio warning. In these particular circumstances however, the Stewards consider that had there been a radio warning, there was no other opportunity for the driver to react.”

Sainz lines up on the starting grid behind teammate Lando Norris and is set to use the soft compound for his first stint, provided rain doesn't force him onto the intermediate or wet tyre.

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • Dert38

    Posts: 377

    you typed Giovinazzo :)

    • + 0
    • Jul 18 2020 - 22:40

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia
21 - Mar 23 2025
China
4 - Apr 6 2025
Japan
11 - Apr 13 2025
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America
16 - May 18 2025
Italy
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco
30 - Jun 1 2025
Spain
13 - Jun 15 2025
Canada
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27 2025
Belgium
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5 2025
Singapore
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America
24 - Oct 26 2025
Mexico
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America
28 - Nov 30 2025
Qatar
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23 2025
4 - Apr 6 2025
11 - Apr 13 2025
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18 2025
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1 2025
13 - Jun 15 2025
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27 2025
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5 2025
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26 2025
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30 2025
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Williams
  • Points 1,337
  • Podiums 29
  • Grand Prix 232
  • Country Spain
  • Date of b. Sep 1 1994 (31)
  • Place of b. Madrid, Spain
  • Weight 66 kg
  • Length 1.78 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar