Sainz hit with grid penalty for Antonelli crash in US GP

Carlos Sainz will serve a five-place grid penalty at the Mexican Grand Prix after the stewards ruled that he was predominantly to blame for the collision with Andrea Kimi Antonelli during the United States Grand Prix.

On lap seven, the Williams driver attempted to pass Antonelli on the inside of Turn 15, lunging towards the apex of the corner. Making contact with the Italian’s car, Sainz’s Williams sustained heavy damage, forcing him to come to a stop and retire from the race. Antonelli, while able to continue, suffered minor damage. 

With the incident sent to the stewards after the race, they found Sainz in breach of the FIA International Sporting Code.

They explained: “At no point prior to the apex was the front axle of Car 55 alongside or ahead of the mirror of Car 12. Therefore, according to the Driving Standards Guidelines, Car 55 had not earned a right to be left space at the apex.” 

On this basis, the Williams driver was to blame.

With Sainz unable to finish the race, the stewards converted what would have been a 10-second penalty into a five-place grid penalty. On top of this, he has received two penalty points on his superlicence, taking him to a total of four within the current 12-month period. 

“I think he’s pretty clear, just very optimistic,” Antonelli said after the race. “It’s just a shame that I got taken out. Yeah, that’s it. The race was ruined and it was difficult then.”

Explaining the damage his car sustained, Antonelli admitted he found it difficult following the contact. 

“It was a bit scrappy. I had a lot of vibration. I hit a little bit of the wall with the rear wing. I don’t know if it was damage, but also I had quite a lot of vibration. So I need to check if the car was fully fine. It was difficult.

“I think pace was OK when I was in free air. But then obviously in dirty air, especially today the tag was big, it was difficult.”

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– The Autosport.com Team