Carlos Sainz fined for crossing track after Singapore GP qualifying crash

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Carlos Sainz has been handed a €25,000 fine by the race stewards following his untimely decision to cross the track after crashing during the Singapore Grand Prix qualifying session. Remarkably, half of the fine (€12,500) will be suspended.

The incident unfolded when Sainz, driving his Ferrari, lost control at the final corner while preparing for a flying lap. His vehicle collided with the barrier on the circuit's outer edge, prompting the session to be halted with a red flag. Sainz proceeded to cross the track in an attempt to quickly return to the Ferrari garage—a move strictly prohibited under current safety regulations unless permitted by a marshal.

A statement from the stewards provided clarity on their decision: "The stewards examined video, questioned the marshals, and heard from the driver that he crossed without first obtaining permission from a marshal. The regulations are explicit that this is not permitted and is a potentially very dangerous situation. Further, this was reinforced by the Race Director in a previous drivers' meeting."

Addressing the surrounding circumstances, the stewards noted, "The stewards accept that Sainz thought that the track was clear because he was after the pit entry and there was a red flag. However, there were still five cars circulating and it was possible that one may make a mistake and not enter the pit lane, or may have entered the pit lane faster than Sainz thought. Further, there were potentially other vehicles entering the track that the driver had no knowledge of."

The stewards did acknowledge mitigating factors, considering this a less severe case due to the red flag situation, in contrast to similar incidents under race conditions with safety cars. "The driver's idea that because he was beyond the pit entry is another mitigating circumstance. But in light of the explicit regulation reinforced in prior drivers' meetings, the stewards order the fine, which is lower than previous penalties, and order half to be suspended for the remainder of the 2024 season," the statement concluded.

Sainz managed to qualify tenth for Sunday’s race, although repair-related changes to his car might necessitate starting from the pit lane.

Reflecting on the mishap, Sainz explained his miscalculation: "I had a bit of a strange accident there. I had to let a lot of cars through. Opening my lap, my tyres were just a lot colder than I thought they would be. I misjudged the grip going on the bump on Turn 17, and it completely snapped on me. Driving mistake. I was already under pressure with another car coming and I knew that launching the lap, I was already going to be slower because of the approach in the last corner was slow. So it meant that I tried to do something when there was not enough grip to do it."

As Sainz prepares for the race, the incident serves as a reminder of the strict safety protocols that drivers are expected to adhere to, even under red flag conditions.

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