In a dramatic turn of events before the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz will drop three positions on the grid for the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix after stewards found he impeded Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton during Q2 at Suzuka. This happened in Q2, when Carlos Sainz, on an in-lap, stayed on the racing line as Lewis Hamilton came into Turn 1 on a hot lap.
Carlos Sainz receives three-paced grid drop as a result of blocking Lewis Hamilton at Turn 1
Carlos Sainz, who had qualified 12th originally, will now be on the grid in 15th. The penalty promotes Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, and Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda up the grid. Lewis Hamilton was compelled to move wide to gain clear air and spoke out with his displeasure immediately on team radio. Despite the disruption, the seven-time world champion was able to reach Q3 and ultimately qualified eighth.
Drivers and team officials were summoned by the FIA to explain the affair, as per the FIA. The stewards inspected video evidence, team radio, and GPS material before deciding that Carlos Sainz had ‘unnecessarily impeded’ Lewis Hamilton.
FIA blames Williams for communication failure
Even though Carlos Sainz claimed he did not realize Hamilton was closing in on him as he had no radio contact and his mirrors were obstructed, the stewards squarely blamed the Williams pit wall. The report stated that over eight seconds' notice was given to the team to tell Sainz Car 44 was not pitting and on a hot lap.
“The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 55 (Carlos Sainz), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, team radio and in-car video evidence,” the FIA stated, “Car 55 was on an in lap after having completed a push lap when Car 44 was starting its push lap, and Car 44 had to move off track to avoid Car 55 in Turn 1. The driver of Car 55 stated that he did not have any warning from the team of the approach of Car 44 on a push lap. He stated that he was caught completely by surprise, and because of the approach speed of Car 44 and the angle of his car, he could not see Car 44 in his mirrors. However, notwithstanding the above, the team had ample warning that Car 44 was on an out lap whilst Car 55 was on its push lap.”
The decision upholds the FIA's argument that a penalty has to be issued regardless of whether the fault is with the driver or the team. It is a setback for Carlos Sainz, who is just finding his feet at Williams after switching from Ferrari and was looking for a better grid position to fight for points at Suzuka.
Also Read: Carlos Sainz's pit box mishap at Japanese Grand Prix: Why fans are laughing and what really happened
With an uncertain weather forecast on race day, the penalty may have a strong bearing on Sainz's race plan. For Hamilton, even after the setback, he will be looking to use a possible wet race to his advantage to attack from eighth place, now leading one fewer competitor on the grid.
Carlos Sainz receives three-paced grid drop as a result of blocking Lewis Hamilton at Turn 1
Provisional Grid for the #JapaneseGP 🇯🇵
— FIA (@fia) April 5, 2025
Carlos Sainz dropping 3 grid positions for unnecessarily impeding Car 44 in the Qualifying.#FIA #F1 pic.twitter.com/ttADpVQipb
Carlos Sainz, who had qualified 12th originally, will now be on the grid in 15th. The penalty promotes Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, and Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda up the grid. Lewis Hamilton was compelled to move wide to gain clear air and spoke out with his displeasure immediately on team radio. Despite the disruption, the seven-time world champion was able to reach Q3 and ultimately qualified eighth.
Drivers and team officials were summoned by the FIA to explain the affair, as per the FIA. The stewards inspected video evidence, team radio, and GPS material before deciding that Carlos Sainz had ‘unnecessarily impeded’ Lewis Hamilton.
FIA blames Williams for communication failure
Even though Carlos Sainz claimed he did not realize Hamilton was closing in on him as he had no radio contact and his mirrors were obstructed, the stewards squarely blamed the Williams pit wall. The report stated that over eight seconds' notice was given to the team to tell Sainz Car 44 was not pitting and on a hot lap.
“The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 55 (Carlos Sainz), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, team radio and in-car video evidence,” the FIA stated, “Car 55 was on an in lap after having completed a push lap when Car 44 was starting its push lap, and Car 44 had to move off track to avoid Car 55 in Turn 1. The driver of Car 55 stated that he did not have any warning from the team of the approach of Car 44 on a push lap. He stated that he was caught completely by surprise, and because of the approach speed of Car 44 and the angle of his car, he could not see Car 44 in his mirrors. However, notwithstanding the above, the team had ample warning that Car 44 was on an out lap whilst Car 55 was on its push lap.”
The decision upholds the FIA's argument that a penalty has to be issued regardless of whether the fault is with the driver or the team. It is a setback for Carlos Sainz, who is just finding his feet at Williams after switching from Ferrari and was looking for a better grid position to fight for points at Suzuka.
Also Read: Carlos Sainz's pit box mishap at Japanese Grand Prix: Why fans are laughing and what really happened
With an uncertain weather forecast on race day, the penalty may have a strong bearing on Sainz's race plan. For Hamilton, even after the setback, he will be looking to use a possible wet race to his advantage to attack from eighth place, now leading one fewer competitor on the grid.
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