Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Motorsport
Motorsport

Sainz hit with Japanese GP grid drop for impeding Hamilton in qualifying

Williams driver Carlos Sainz has received a three-place grid penalty for Formula 1's Japanese Grand Prix for impeding Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in qualifying.

Arriving at high speed into Turn 1 for his final flying lap in Q2, Hamilton encountered Sainz in the middle of the road, having to abort his lap and take avoiding action into the runoff area.

Sainz said he had no warning that Hamilton, the driver who replaced him at Ferrari this season, was approaching fast and was caught by surprise.

The FIA's race stewards sympathised with the Spaniard but, as it is the responsibility of the team to warn its drivers of traffic, it has handed him the standard three-place grid penalty.

That penalty drops Sainz from 12th to 15th on the grid, having narrowly missed the cut to make it into Q3.

"Car 55 [Sainz] was on an in-lap after having completed a push lap when Car 44 [Hamilton] was starting its push lap, and Car 44 had to move off track to avoid Car 55 in Turn 1," the stewards wrote in their verdict.

"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.

Carlos Sainz, Williams (Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images)

"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 8 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.

"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."

Sainz's team-mate Alex Albon did advance to Q3 to claim ninth for Williams as it fights Racing Bulls at the front of the midfield.

Photos from Japanese GP - Practice & Qualifying

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Alexander Albon, Williams

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Antonio Giovinazzi, Reserve Driver, Scuderia Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Ryo Hirakawa, Alpine reserve driver

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Laura Mueller, Race Engineer of Haas F1

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Team garage of Scuderia Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari 

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Polesitter Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Jean Alesi

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Saturday

Formula 1
66
In this article
Filip Cleeren
Formula 1
Carlos Sainz
Williams
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.