The FIA has dropped a bombshell in the world of Formula 1, announcing a grid penalty for the Japanese Grand Prix following a dramatic incident involving none other than seven-time F1 champion, Lewis Hamilton, and Williams’ Carlos Sainz. The qualifying session saw Hamilton finishing in a disappointing P8, with his title rival Max Verstappen securing pole position, putting the pressure on the Mercedes driver to make a stunning comeback in the race.
The controversy unfolded when Hamilton, on a flying lap, encountered Sainz driving slowly in the middle of the track, forcing Hamilton to take evasive action at the last moment. The incident raised eyebrows and was promptly investigated by the race stewards, leading to a shocking revelation of Sainz being slapped with a three-place grid penalty. This means Sainz will now have to start the race from a lowly 15th position, adding more drama to an already intense Grand Prix.
In a detailed statement, the FIA explained, “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.” Despite Sainz claiming he was caught off guard and had no warning from his team about Hamilton’s approach, the stewards pointed out that the Williams team had sufficient information to alert Sainz of the situation.
The decision to penalize Sainz was based on the standard penalty guideline for such offenses during qualifying, regardless of whether it was the driver’s fault or a team miscommunication. The FIA stood firm on their ruling, emphasizing that the penalty was warranted in this case.
With tensions running high and the championship battle heating up, this grid penalty adds another layer of excitement to an already thrilling F1 season. As all eyes turn to the Japanese Grand Prix, fans can expect nothing short of high-octane action and intense battles on the track.