Carlos Sainz Fined €25,000 for Crossing Live F1 Track After Singapore GP Qualifying Crash

Carlos Sainz has been fined €25,000 for walking across an active F1 track following a crash during qualifying. A portion of this fine is suspended.

Carlos Sainz received a substantial penalty for walking across an active Formula 1 track following his accident during the qualifying session at the Singapore Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver lost control of his vehicle at the high-speed final turn of the Marina Bay Street Circuit during his initial Q3 attempt and crashed backwards into the barriers.

Sainz safely exited his damaged Ferrari and made his way on foot across the track to return to the pits.

He has received a €25,000 penalty, with €12,500 of it being deferred for the rest of the season as long as there are no additional violations.

"Carlos Sainz caused a red flag during Q3 due to a crash. Following the incident, he walked across the track and the pit entry road," the stewards' statement said. "After reviewing video footage, speaking with marshals, and hearing Sainz's account, it was determined that he crossed without prior authorization from a Marshal. The rules clearly state that this is prohibited and poses significant danger. Additionally, the Race Director had emphasized this point in an earlier drivers' meeting."

The Stewards acknowledge that Sainz believed the track was free of other cars since he was past the pit entrance and a red flag had been shown. Nonetheless, there were still five cars on the circuit, and any of them could have erred and missed the pit lane or entered the pit lane quicker than Sainz anticipated. Additionally, there could have been other vehicles coming onto the track that Sainz was unaware of.

The Stewards reviewed this incident in relation to recent penalties issued under race conditions, even when a safety car was deployed. They determined this situation to be less serious due to the presence of a red flag. Additionally, the fact that the driver had already passed the pit entry was considered a mitigating factor. However, given the clear regulations emphasized in previous drivers' meetings, the Stewards decided to impose a fine. This fine is lower than those given in past cases, and half of it will be suspended for the rest of the 2024 season due to the mitigating circumstances.

Lewis Hamilton received a €50,000 fine, with €25,000 suspended, and was reprimanded for walking onto an active track during the Qatar Grand Prix last year.

Carlos Sainz will begin the grand prix on Sunday from a maximum position of 10th on the grid, while his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc will start from 9th place.

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