Carlos Sainz has spoken out following the dramatic late-race crash with Sergio Perez at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that dashed both drivers’ podium hopes. The Ferrari driver, who was in contention for third place, collided with the Red Bull of Perez during Lap 50, an incident that abruptly ended what had been a promising weekend for Sainz.
Sainz and Perez were engaged in a fierce battle for the final podium spot when disaster struck. Perez, seemingly drawn into Sainz’s Ferrari by the slipstream effect, made contact with the Spaniard, sending both cars crashing into the barriers and out of the race. Sainz, visibly frustrated, asserted that he was not at fault for the incident and expressed confusion over what had led to the crash.
“I am convinced that I didn’t do anything wrong,” said Sainz. “It’s really unfortunate because we were having a strong race, and to end it like that is just disappointing.”
Sainz’s words echoed the sentiment of many Ferrari fans, who were left devastated as the team looked poised for a double podium finish. After starting from pole, Charles Leclerc finished second behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, while Sainz was set to join him on the podium before the fateful collision.
Sainz also expressed relief that both he and Perez walked away unscathed from the high-speed crash, emphasizing the importance of safety amidst the frustration.
“I’m just glad we’re both okay after what happened. It’s a tough way to end the weekend.”
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur weighed in cautiously on the incident, stating that he had yet to fully review the footage but noted that both drivers appeared to be aggressively chasing the slipstream in the closing laps. He refrained from making any definitive comments before completing a thorough investigation of the crash.
“I haven’t reviewed the crash yet, but it looked like they were both chasing the slipstream, which brought them very close. I’ll need to take a closer look before making any comments,” Vasseur explained.
Despite the crash, Ferrari showed strong form in Baku, positioning themselves as a competitive force just behind McLaren. With a potential outside chance at the world title, Sainz and Ferrari will be looking to regroup and capitalize on their evident pace in the upcoming races.
