Sainz handed three-place grid drop for impeding Hamilton · RaceFans

The stewards have penalised Carlos Sainz Jnr three places on the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix for impeding Lewis Hamilton during the session.

The Williams driver failed to move off the racing line after completing his final lap in Q2. Hamilton, who was beginning a lap, caught him in the first corner and had to back off.

Sainz said his team failed to warn him that Hamilton was closing. However the stewards ruled the team should have made the driver aware of Hamilton’s situation and had the opportunity to alert their driver.

“The driver of car 55 [Sainz] stated that he did not have any warning from the team, of the approach of car 44 [Hamilton] 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. Also, more than eight seconds elapsed from when it was obvious car 44 was not going into the pits, and hence was going to start a push lap, and when car 55 could have taken appropriate action if the driver had been warned by the team.”

The stewards pointed out penalties for impeding are issued irrespective of whether the driver or team was at fault.

“It is noted that the standard penalty guideline for this offence during qualifying, irrespective of whether it was the fault of the driver or the team, is a three grid position penalty, and therefore the stewards find that the standard penalty should be applied,” they ruled.

Hamilton complained on his radio that he was held up by a Williams, though he misidentified Sainz as his team mate Alexander Albon.

This article will be updated

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